Generally speaking, I’m not a forgetful person. Those who know me best sometimes tease me because I have a strange ability to remember some of the most inconsequential details. I usually do well when playing trivia games, and I retain a decent percentage of what I read. But, contrary to this pattern, there was a season of my life when I noticed that my typically good memory was noticeably deficient.

During the early 2000s, my wife and I had four children during a five and a half year span. At the same time, I was also attempting to lead two ministries at once. I was the lead pastor of a church and the director of a Christian camp and conference center. I loved everything I was doing, but the nature of trying to juggle all those responsibilities at once came at a price. 

As someone who was known for having a good memory, I was always shocked when people would reference things they had told me, events I had been present for, and people I had been introduced to that I honestly couldn’t remember. It was the strangest thing and very disconcerting, but it was also a sign that I needed to make some changes because I clearly couldn’t keep track of everything I was trying to manage.

Sometimes in life, we become forgetful because we’re busy or overwhelmed. Other times, we become forgetful by choice because there are certain things we would prefer not to think about.

During the days in which the prophet Hosea ministered in Israel, the people of Israel had become forgetful by choice. Sadly, the one they had chosen to forget was the Lord who had rescued and redeemed them. As we can see in the pages of Hosea’s book, there were severe consequences that came with their elective forgetfulness toward God. Those consequences aren’t completely unique to ancient Israel. In our own way, we may experience similar consequences if we forget our Creator.

How can we avoid the perils of forgetting Him? Are there patterns and principles we can glean from the cautionary words the Holy Spirit inspired Hosea to write?

Don’t forget that God desires a genuine relationship with His people.

Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law. To me they cry, “My God, we—Israel—know you.”Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him. Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing. – and a professor at Cairn University where he leads the Digital Media and Communication program.  He also leads an online community called Platform Launchers where he helps people build message-based online platforms.

 John has authored over 30 books and presently hosts several podcasts on the LifeAudio podcast network.  His shows have been downloaded millions of times by listeners throughout the world.

You can learn more about John’s ministry, books, and podcasts at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.