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In Genesis chapter eight, verse one, Moses tells us,

 “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and  God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided,”

This is the first time in Scripture that the Holy Spirit chose to use this thought provoking word, “remember.” The Hebrew Lexicon, Brown, Driver and Brigs, tell us the word means,

“1. remember persons: a. individuals, with kindness, granting requests, protecting, delivering etc.,...”

The Genesis account reveals that at the time this word was used, a storm was raging like none before or any other since. The Holy Spirit inspired word, used to communicate this event, is kataklusmo/ß (kataklusmos). Looking at the transliteration we can see the similarity to our English word “cataclism,” which we get from it.  It is usually translated “flood,” but means much more than a lot of water. No other catastrophe in the entire history of the earth could compare with the destruction and death of man and beast that was occurring. We are compelled to conclude that billions of people and many more billions of animals died.

In the midst of this horrible turmoil we are reminded that God “remembered” faithful Noah and He even remembered the beast and cattle that were being tossed by the waves while they were in the ark.

We all know only too well that we forget many things that we ought to remember. It’s embarrassing and is sometimes irresponsible. God is different. He remembers.

Our closest friends, even our brethren, may forget the service and sacrifices we make for them, but God remembers.

 “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the        saints,” Hebrews 6:10.

Most of us have had the experience of listening to promises from individuals who have broken promises before and expect us to trust them now. People do that, but we need to know that God is different. God never forgets His promises. The New Testament first uses this word “remember” with reference to a promise God had made to redeem His people, 2,000 years earlier. In Luke 1, Zacharias, by the Holy Spirit testified,

 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, ...to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He             swore to Abraham our father,” vs.68, 72-73.

In order to emphasize that our Heavenly Father is aware of our needs, Jesus reminds us that He even remembers the sparrows:

 “not one of them is forgotten before God,” Luke 12:6.

This assures us that He certainly remembers His own children:

 “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust....” Psalm 103:14, ESV.

The prophets often depict Israel as the wife of Jehovah. He is her husband. After Israel had forsaken her husband and had been an unfaithful wife with other gods, He still said,

 “I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness,” Jeremiah 2:2.

Knowing that God remembers is reassuring but may also be terrifying. God remembers the evil as well as the good. We have all sinned and time does not affect His memory of that sin.  If we have refused to repent and rectify our past sins, God remembers.

How wonderful is it to know that Christians have been cleansed by the power of the blood of Christ and that this effects the memory of God. He chooses not to remember the sinful past of those who have submitted to His will in obedience to the Gospel.

 “THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” Hebrews 10:17

 —Adapted from ideas expressed by Henry Morris