Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Nehemiah 9:16-21
16 "But they, our forefathers, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and did not obey your commands. 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, 18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, 'This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,' or when they committed awful blasphemies.
19 "Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 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. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.
Who is the most faithful person you know? I’ve heard it said, “You can only have so many relationships.” This statement examines what it takes to have a friendship or relationship: quality time, trust, loyalty, and devotion. It takes work to be a faithful friend, and the more intimate a friendship becomes; the more it hurts when that friend lets you down.
Have you ever thought that it takes more work to keep a friendship strong then to let one go? The work and sacrifice that pours into a quality friendship is what makes that relationship valuable and important, and allows it to grow. God desires for us to obey Him, to seek help from Him, and to not stray from His commands because he wants His friendship with us to thrive.
God is always working on His friendship with us. While His attributes derive for us the ideal friendship, it is not always easy for us to do our part. Such was the case with the Israelites as they traveled through the desert led by Moses. Their refusal to listen or to follow God’s commands (vs.16-17) historically marked them as a disobedient people. And yet through their disappointment God’s attributes are revealed to us: He was compassionate, gracious, and forgiving to the Israelites (v. 17).
It can be difficult to read the account of the Israelites and wonder, “What were they thinking? God provided for them and showed them miracles and they still rebelled too strongly?” And through their rebellion, He was faithful.
Examine your own life. How many times has God been a faithful friend to you and you rebelled against Him? The story of the Israelites reminds us that we serve a faithful God. He will always be a perfect friend to us, and we must do our part and be faithful to Him.
(Courtesy of C. Himes)
Posted By: Eric at 1:43 PM : Link : 0 Comments
