“You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear our nor did their feet become swollen.” Nehemiah 9:20-21 (NIV)
The people of Israel were fasting and repentant. It says earlier in the chapter they had spent one quarter of the day reading the Book of the Law followed by another quarter of the day confessing their sins and worshiping the Lord and then they were called to “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.” (v.5a) The rest of the chapter is a beautiful prayer of praise.
This prayer remembers the goodness of God, His faithfulness, and His unfailing love for His people. As I was reading this the other morning, I found myself praising the Lord. I began adding things to what the people were saying, reminding myself what good things the Lord has done for me. In spite of my sin, He faithfully pours out His love on me.
I chose these two verses to highlight to peak your interest in hopes you will take a moment and read the entire chapter. You will be blessed. The Lord took the people from bondage in Egypt and sustained them through the desert for forty years. He gave them instruction by His Spirit. Isn’t that what He has done for us? He has saved us from the bondage of sin and gave us His Spirit to guide and direct us. He fed them with manna and quenched their thirst. Didn’t Jesus say He was the Bread of Life (John 6:35) and we will not thirst again if we drink the water He gives (Joh 4:14)? He met all their needs, “they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out.” Hello? Did you read that? Their clothes did not wear out. After forty years, their clothes did not wear out! That one always blows my mind. And “their feet did not become swollen.” As someone whose feet and ankles and knees can hurt after too much walking, I love that last part. When He set out to free His people, that is exactly what He did. He provided ALL they would need to make the journey. The same goes for us. We are a redeemed people who have all we need to go through our journey of life until we finally go home, to the promised land, Heaven.
Join me today in rejoicing that our God provides ALL our needs. Look back over your life and take a mental inventory of all the times He has carried you along the way.
Remember His faithfulness to you!
Remember He loves you!
Remember we serve a great God!
