One bad apple

Nehemiah 9 is just packed full of all of the things that God had done for the Israelites, everything from providing to guiding. Miracle after miracle is documented in this chapter. But tucked away in chapter 9 between all of the miracles are some things that in our minds shouldn’t be there. They are as follows:   

¹⁶ “But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands. ¹⁷ They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them,

²⁶ “But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.

²⁸ “But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!  ²⁹ “You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen.

Proud, stubborn, paid no attention, refused to obey, did not remember, disobedient, rebelled, turned their backs, committed blasphemy, committed evil, and obstinate; how dare they do all of these things after everything God had done for them. Why do they do these things when it’s obvious everything God has done for them?

You know where this is going don’t you? You don’t have to look too far to find a bad apple. All you have to do is look into a mirror. We are no different than the Israelites. If you take a step back and think of all of the grace that God has shown you, and all of the things he has done for you why do you become proud, stubborn, pay no attention, refuse to obey, not remember, be disobedient, rebellious, turn your back, commit blasphemy, commit evil , and be obstinate? Why is that? It is something that we should be thinking about every day. We should also be very thankful for the truth that verse 31 of Nehemiah says:

³¹ But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!

Today think about how sinful you are and how gracious God is and thank him for it.