Can God Forget?

Is it possible for God to forget? Not according to the Scriptures. We live in a day and age when there is a demand to remember various things, especially passwords which security requires us to access personal information, and the like. 

Just about everyone forgets something from time to time. It may be the names of people, places or things. It could be as simple as where we misplaced our keys. And even  names of people we were recently introduced to. A youngster once said the three things he finds it hard to remember are names, faces and he can’t remember what the third thing was.

Since God is not like man, it is impossible for Him to forget anything. To say or think that God forgets is to irreverently bring God down to man’s level. Hasn’t He said “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8,9). 

God has also declared: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). This text is telling us that it is impossible for God to forget since He will never us nor forsake us.

There are times however when a Christian may feel God has either forgotten or forsaken him because answers to his prayers are “taking too long.” Perish that thought completely and    remember, God’s timing is always perfect. God sees and knows what we neither see nor know.  Perhaps the ‘delay’ is the result of a lack of faith or lack of patience in waiting for the answers. We are creatures of time and space while God is eternal. 

The people of Israel assumed that God had forgotten them; hence They cried “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” However, Isaiah assured them that God cannot forget them by saying: “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 forget you. Behold I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are continually before me” (Isaiah 49:14-16).

This text is a testament to the unconditional love and compassion that God has for His children. He cites the possibility that a mother may forget her nursing child and without compassion for her offspring. God makes it clear: “I will never forget you.”

God also says: “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Engraved means to be permanently fixed in. Thus God will always be there for us. We cannot escape His attention and presence. He remains faithful to His children. We can absolutely trust God and trust in Him. He leads and guides all day long. When we are in the hollow of God’s hands our safety is secured.

God continues: “Your walls are continually before me.” Walls, here in the text, refers to the walls of the city of Jerusalem. But figuratively, they refer to the wellbeing of God’s people. Continually means without interruption; repeated frequently. God’s children are always on His mind. We are never out of God’s divine sight. God’s help is assured and His blessings are inexhaustible. They remain for a lifetime. Our part is to trust God, surrender to Him and leave the outcome entirely to Him and His perfect will for us.

Since it is impossible for God to forget, we can rest assured that the Christian life is absolutely the greatest and best life here and now. Here is one of many assurances we have in the Bible to help and inspire us to live the Christian life with God’s help. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you” (Isaiah 41:10,13).

Remember, God has always been and will always be on His Throne in heaven. The believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is not left alone to grope in the dark. He is fully aware of our circumstances even more that we are. 

Here’s what God declares about Himself: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose” (Isaiah 46:9,10).

Hardships and trials of every kind will certainly come and there seems to be no way out. But God will make a way where there seems to be no way.