“I have treasured the words of His mouth even more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12b

Storehouses

My grandfather used to work in a “storehouse” in Southern California. His company, Lyon’s, had huge warehouses in which were stored all the household belongings for families who were perhaps moving or leaving the country for a period of time. I remember visiting his workplace when I was very young. Sturdy shelving rose from the floor to the two-story ceiling, with everything imaginable wrapped in plastic, rugs rolled into brown paper wrapping, and furniture stacked every which way. I vividly remember the smell of mothballs, dust, and mold.

The storehouses we carry within us are our memories*, and they are a powerful tool in the hands of God. He, seeing all things that are to come, makes provision for our future calamities and adventures by telling us to store up for the future.

A memorable example is in Genesis 41, when God gave Joseph the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams. A severe famine was coming upon the land of Egypt, but there would be seven years in which to prepare by storing up grain ahead of time. When the famine came, there would be enough food stored to keep the people alive. The food gathered and stored in “the good years” (vs. 35) was to be “a reserve” (vs. 36) for the famine years, “that the land may not perish during the famine.”

I have often thought of this concept as it applies to memorizing Scripture, storing it up in our minds during good times to draw from during spiritual famine and the distresses of life. A wise woman will store up the good things she will need for the future. (Read about this wise woman in Proverbs 31.)

Many people store up food and water, but the thing we most need to store is God’s Word. We need it even more than we need food each day. Job 23:12b says,  “I have treasured the words of His mouth even more than my necessary food.” We also need discernment, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge—all found in God’s Word.

What is stored in your memory storehouse in preparation for what is to come in your life? Have you stored up fears, pride, the harsh words spoken by others, self-loathing and self-centeredness, or an uncontrolled imagination? Then only these things will be available for you to draw from when calamity and famine come.

But if you have wisely stored God’s Word, character, peace, promises, and love in your memory, you will have a rich resource indeed. What is keeping you from starting a new storage system today?

Lord, You have given us wise counsel in Your Word. With the help of Your Spirit, we will sweep out the old storehouse and bring in Your Word, that we may draw from that place in time of need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

*This idea is from Amy Carmichael in “Edges of His Ways”.