Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this. (Ecclesiastes 7:10)

There is a difference between remembering the past and longing for the past. It’s particularly valuable for us to remember God’s faithfulness and provision. Abraham built altars in the desert to mark encounters with God. The altars weren’t just a reminder of the moment; they were a reminder to worship God. In preparing the Israelites to enter the promised land, Moses told them to remember what God had already done. “But do not be afraid of them. Be sure to remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt: the great trials that you saw, the signs and wonders, and the mighty hand and outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.” (Deuteronomy 7:18-19)

There is something different that happens when we begin to look back and long for the former days. In the difficulty of the present, we tend to develop a distorted view of the past. The Israelites had this problem on the journey from Egypt to the Land of Promise. On four occasions – when facing Pharoah’s army at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:11-12), when they were hungry in the desert (Ex. 16:3), when the spies returned at Kadesh Barnea (Num. 14:2-4), and when there was no water to drink in the desert (Num. 20:5) – they longed to return to Egypt. In these moments, they longed for what looked like the provision of safety and sustenance when compared to the present. How is it they had forgotten the misery of Egypt, their suffering, and their own cries for God to save them?

You and I have the same tendency as the Israelites. In difficult moments, we are prone to look fondly to the past and forget what God has done to bring us to this moment. When life has taken an unexpected turn and you’re tempted to fall for the lure of the past, don’t look back. God’s great purpose in your life, for your good and His glory, lies ahead of you in the Land of Promise, not behind you in the desert of Egypt.

By Jesse Smith