Manasseh, according to both Easton’s and
Fausset’s Bible Dictionary, means one who causes to forget.
Manasseh was thus named as Joseph’s statement that he was forgetting those hard
years leading up to his position as prime minister of Egypt.
Although Manasseh’s younger
brother, Ephraim, received the birthright blessing from his grandfather, Jacob,
Manasseh was still remembered among the tribes of Israel. And Manasseh is
listed among the ones sealed in Revelation 7:6. Moreover, he was rightly named,
since he had to learn what to forget and what to remember
after his disappointing blessing from his grandfather.
Life consists of an
endless list of events and circumstances which fall into two categories, those
things we need to forget and those we must remember. The
Apostle Paul makes a challenge to the Philippians to forget those things which
were behind them. But Jeremiah encourages us to seek out the old paths. So, how
do we determine what to remember and what to forget?
The
key to this question can be found in focusing on the reason for
our remembering and our forgetting. If we remember in order to keep an offense
against us ever-conscious, we are heading for difficulty. If we forget because
we find remembering too unpleasant, once more we are not sailing toward calm
waters.
But, if we remember in order to keep the promises and provisions of God ever before us, we have chosen wisely. If we forget because remembering brings no healing or peace, then we, in most situations, are being wise.
Croft Pentz gives an important insight to the subject
of forgetting. He states, “A
retentive memory is often a good thing, but the ability to forget can be a
token of greatness.” Pentz continues, “It
would be nice if we could forget our troubles like we forget our blessings.” —Croft
M. Pentz, The Complete Book of Zingers (Wheaton: Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc., 1990).
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of
it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is
ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14) [See also vs. 8-10]
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