How Can We Forget?
Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash
Even Though We Forget, God Does Not Forget
by Eric Elkin
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”
Amnesia is when someone has “trouble remembering past events and previously familiar information.” Unlike how Hollywood presents it, amnesia is not generally a condition of forgetting one’s identity. Amazingly, amnesia does not affect intelligence, judgment, or other critical thinking skills.
Nations are obviously as vulnerable to amnesia as any individual person. If you doubt this is true, consider current events. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is nothing new. The foreign invasion of Ukraine first began with the Mongols back in 1236. This was not even the first time Russia invaded Ukraine.
Talks this past week between China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin seemed to open a new chapter in the book of global amnesia. Those who pay attention to such events are worried about the war in Ukraine escalating into another World War. And, if not war, at least beginning a new Cold War with China. Regardless, we’ve been down both these roads before.
“I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.”
Thankfully, for those who tend to forget, we have YouTube. This morning I watched a video called “Death in Paradise.” It shows modern pictures of Southern France with old pictures from World War II superimposed. The current images show the beauty of peace, and the older photos reveal the grim reality of war.
Watching the video deepened my confusion. How can we forget? Beyond World War II, we have plenty of evidence to show the destructive power of war. Compare pictures of Kyiv from before the invasion to today. You will see buildings shredded and beautiful vacation destinations filled with debris. Peace is much more attractive than war, so why can’t we remember that?
Our lack of memory is why I enjoy this reading from Isaiah so much. The part I find beautiful is being told what God cannot do. God cannot forget. As haunting as it may sound, even mothers can forget the children they nursed, but God cannot. Forgetting and being forgotten is painful; what a blessing to know we are remembered.
God opens our reading with reference to “a time of favor” and “a day of salvation.” Some might hear this as a promise of eternal life when we die. To Isaiah, though, it is for the present. Israel’s time of war will end. Their time of being held captive by oppressive forces will cease, and they will come out of the darkness of despair. This will happen because God cannot forget.
In the same way, God does not forget us. In a modern world of uncertainty, these words give me comfort. I am remembered and loved, and so are you. And because God does not forget, our time in darkness will end, and we will see the light of peace.
Click to read Isaiah 49: 8-15
Reflection Questions:
When has forgetting been a good thing?
How has forgetting led you to repeat a previous painful experience?
What does it feel like to feel forgotten?
When have you experienced the joy of being remembered?
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