When God “Remembers” He Moves
There’s this verse tucked in Exodus 2:24 that I can’t shake: “God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”
Let’s be honest—some of us are groaning too.
We know people walking through pain they don’t have words for. Silent disappointment. Delays that feel endless. Struggles with sin that seem daunting. Maybe that’s you. Maybe you’ve started to wonder if God’s forgotten.
Look here’s the truth: when God “remembers,” it’s not about memory. It’s about movement.
In Exodus 2:24 that Hebrew word for “remember” is zakar, meaning God is choosing to focus in and act. It’s the moment He steps in— the shift.
When God remembered Noah, the floodwaters began to recede.
When He remembered Rachel, her infertility was met with favor.
When He remembered His covenant, the story of Israel began to turn.
No God didn’t forget. He focused in and acted.
God’s remembering is a divine intervention. A holy response.
In Exodus 33, we see the Israelite people respond.
After they melt down their jewelry to make the golden calf, God calls them out. He tells them He won’t go with them because of their stubborn hearts. That’s the breaking point. They’re convicted. Moses is desperate. The people then show their repentance by taking off the very jewelry that built their idol.
Taking off their ornaments became a public sign of private repentance.
They were done with compromise.
Done with trying to manage both God and their idols.
Done with shallow religion.
Sometimes faith looks like laying something down instead of picking something up.
So what about us?
What are the things we need to “take off”?
What signs of pride, distraction, or self-reliance need to be removed so we can walk with God again—fully surrendered and all-in for him?
That’s where this lands today.
Maybe for you, it’s laying down the illusion of control.
Maybe it’s breaking your attachment to performance.
Maybe it’s admitting that what once felt like freedom has turned into quiet idolatry.
What is that thing that’s captured your attention away from you seeking God’s Kingdom first?
Whatever it is, the greatness of this moment is God hasn’t forgotten you.
And when He remembers— your story begins to shift.
Now it’s your turn to focus in and act.
Prayer
Father God- thank you for remembering us— not just with compassion, but with action. You sent Jesus to humble himself by accomplishing his crosswork and resurrection proving how you remember by focusing in and being a God of action. Show us what we need to humbly take off. Help us to surrender anything we’ve used to build our own version of security or identity. We want to return to you fully. Move in our life as only you can. In Jesus name, Amen.
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