By Dr. Lee Bee Teik

The Significance and Role of Retrospection

Retrospection or looking back to inspect on what has happened is another basic human function. However, retrospection can be positive or negative.

If retrospection is negative, us to cling on to the bad past due to some pleasurable feelings which the memory surfaces. One begins to loathe and yet long for the past bad. God described such people as stubborn, of vile heart, walking in their own counsel, looking backward to the old life rather than go forward to His new life for them (Jeremiah 7:24).

In Genesis 19:17, 24-26, tells us that the angel came to rescue Lot’s family from God’s judgement on Sodom and Gomorah. They were commanded,

“Flee for your life! Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Flee to the hills...”.

However, Lot’s wife looked back and was instantly turned into a pillar of salt, a monument of disobedience for her longing for and yet loathing the luxuries of Sodom. Sodom was indeed comfortable but bad. We need to notice that our Lord considered this lesson significant enough to remind us about it in and Luke 17:32-33.

If retrospection is positive, it will help us to give thanks rejoice always, pray constantly and also give thanks in all circumstances. Having done that, we move ahead with God who will handle the past for us. It shows us how He has been with us even without our knowing it and how He has turned bad into good according to His purpose (Genesis 50:20 & Romans 8:28). We see this process in Joseph’s pilgrimage...

In Genesis 42:7,
Joseph was still bitter, angry, resentful and revengeful. He had suppressed his emotional wounds for more than 20 years. He could not make himself be reconciled with them yet. He thoughts about them and feelings for them were not reconciled yet. He probably had not yet forgiven them deep inside. He suppressed his pains by focusing on his successful palace roles at hand.

In Genesis 43:30,
when Joseph saw his playmate brother Benjamin, he wept for joy because he had good memories of him and felt safe in his presence. Further, something positive was definitely emerging in his other brothers’ lives. At least, Judah had cared enough for Papa Jacob by standing as guarantor for Benjamin’s safety. His dam broke and he could not hold back his tears of joy any longer; the whole palace community heard his cries! His negative retrospection had been replaced by positive ones.

This part of the story also shows that sometimes, when we suppress our painful memories, the beautiful ones are hidden too. In my own life, there were more happy times than unhappy ones; yet, for many years, the happy scenes were hidden...I could only automatically review the painful scenes when I recalled my childhood. But as the Lord healed me stage by stage, I realised one day, that the happy scenes of childhood freedom and joy were spontaneously coming to my conscious mind while the sad ones had disappeared when I recalled my past.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see!”

In Genesis 45:1-15,
Joseph could not contain his freed emotions any longer; he went out of control and expressed his having forgiven his older brothers by warmly embracing each one. God’s compassion flowed through him to them.

In Genesis 50:15-21,
after Papa Jacob died, the older brothers feared Joseph’s possible revenge. They had not really understood him yet. But Joseph calmed their fears with the reassurance of his forgiveness, made possible because of God’s sovereign grace to each of them. He who had received grace was able to give the same grace to others. The vision of Genesis 50:20 enabled Joseph to simply state: “God cares, therefore Joseph cares”. Indeed, God makes everything work for the good of those who love Him, to those called according to His purpose, not ours.

This perspective implies that after a particular sin or wound has been dealt with, we need to move on with God’s power and promises.

But how do we move on?
We shall continue this discussion in the next issue.