Nehemiah 9:16–25 - 16 “But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments. 17 “They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; And You did not forsake them. 18 “Even when they made for themselves A calf of molten metal And said, ‘This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great blasphemies, 19 You, in Your great compassion, Did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, To guide them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go. 20 “You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth, And You gave them water for their thirst. 21 “Indeed, forty years You provided for them in the wilderness and they were not in want; Their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell. 22 “You also gave them kingdoms and peoples, And allotted them to them as a boundary. They took possession of the land of Sihon the king of Heshbon And the land of Og the king of Bashan. 23 “You made their sons numerous as the stars of heaven, And You brought them into the land Which You had told their fathers to enter and possess. 24 “So their sons entered and possessed the land. And You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, And You gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, To do with them as they desired. 25 “They captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled and grew fat, And reveled in Your great goodness.
What does today’s passage say?
In today's passage, the Israelites recall God's faithfulness despite their ancestors' stubbornness and disobedience (vv. 16-18). They had quickly forgotten God's miraculous works and guidance in the wilderness, growing impatient and constructing their own idol. Yet God did not abandon them but continued providing manna, water, cloud guidance, and mercy. The Israelites admit their ancestors did not appreciate God's compassion following their repeated defiance (vv. 19-21). Still, God stayed with them for forty years in the wilderness, ensuring their clothing and footwear remained intact while providing for daily needs. God also gave proper food, water, and strength when battles were fought. Even after settling in the Promised Land, the Israelites repeatedly tested God's patience through disobedience (vv. 22-25). Despite this, He did not forsake them but rather sent deliverers to turn their hearts back through adversity meant to refine their stubbornness and bring repentance.
How can I apply Nehemiah 9:16-25 to my life?
As leaders seeking to serve God, we recognize the critical role that confession, worship, and trust in God's faithful provision play in developing our character and capacity. The example laid out in these verses demonstrates the power of sincerely acknowledging where we have gone wrong, laying ourselves humbly before God in confession, openly receiving His mercy and grace, while at the same time lifting our voice to praise Him for sustaining us even when we stumbled. Though this passage recounts events long ago, the lessons ring true for us today. Just like those ancient Israelites, even faithful followers of God can miss the mark and need to experience cleansing forgiveness and renewal. We too easily forget the Lord’s faithful care and provision through ups and downs when our focus drifts. As leaders guiding families, teams, or congregations, we set the tone. Our transparency, integrity, and dependency on the Lord impacts those who follow our lead. The way we acknowledge struggles shapes the culture. The grace we extend mirrors the grace we have received. The gratitude we express for God’s provisions seeds the same in others. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
1. Confess Sin Openly Before God (vv. 16-18): The Israelites openly confessed the sins of their ancestors before God. They did not try to justify or minimize the wrongs committed in the past but took full responsibility. Like the Israelites, leaders today should create a culture where sin can be confessed transparently before God without fear of judgment or condemnation. This type of honest, corporate confession cleanses the heart and clears the way for God's fresh direction, grace and purposes. As leaders we must first acknowledge and confess our own failings openly and honestly before God and trusted Christian confidants. We must lead our teams and organizations to do the same collectively in authentic shared times of corporate confession, reflecting on ways we have fallen short of God's standards and hurt others. This opens the channels for the purifying and strengthening work of the Holy Spirit in our leadership. As leaders, we set the example - our transparency and humility in confession prompts others to open up. Corporate confession also builds relational bridges and unity across teams when done constructively. Of course, confession is not a one-time event - we must foster an ongoing culture that welcomes honesty before God and each other, not hiding sins but bringing them to the light for healing (2 Chronicles 7:14, James 5:16, 1 John 1:9).
Food for Thought: What sins or failings do I need to confess openly first before expecting or leading my team to do so? What would a healthy culture of corporate confession look like on my team or in my church?
2. Acknowledge God's Grace and Mercy (vv. 19-21): The Israelites recalled how God continued to guide, provide, and show mercy despite their stubbornness and disobedience. As leaders, we must acknowledge and help others recognize the incredible patience, grace, and mercy God has shown toward us. Though we are prone to wander, make mistakes, and even deliberately disobey at times, God does not cast us aside. He continues to forgive, heal, restore, and use us in His redemption story. As leaders we need to internalize this truth more deeply and lead others to grasp it as well through our words, our prayers, and our actions. We must communicate openly about God's grace at work in our weaknesses and failures. We must foster a leadership culture that accepts and, possibly even expects imperfection yet believes wholeheartedly in each person's potential through the transforming power of Christ at work within. As we acknowledge and testify to God's patient mercy that uplifts the fallen, it awakens bold faith in others to get back up and carry on despite pitfalls along the way. Our leadership tone must resonate with the same gentle restoration that Christ demonstrated throughout His earthly ministry, not condemnation (Hebrews 4:14-16, Ephesians 2:1-9, Romans 8:1).
Food for Thought: Do my words and actions toward those I lead communicate a firm belief in the power of God's grace and mercy at work in them? In what specific ways can I cultivate a leadership culture that acknowledges our humanity yet believes fully in the potential of team members because of Christ in us?
3. Praise God for His Faithful Provision (vv. 22-25): The passage recounts how God provided for the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings after the exodus from Egypt. Though they were unfaithful, He compassionately met their needs, giving guidance, daily manna and water. As leaders, we must lead our teams and churches to praise and thank God for His faithful, generous provision for our needs. Even in seasons of spiritual drought or barrenness when we do not perceive it, God is still working to sustain us. Despite our forgetfulness and imperfect devotion, God remembers His promises and graciously supplies strength, renewal and direction when we seek Him. Therefore, as leaders we need to model and facilitate times of praise and gratitude for God's miraculous provision - both past and present. We can recount testimonies of God's hand of sustenance during lean times, reminding our teams of spiritual markers and victories that revealed God's faithful presence and resources along the way. This strengthens corporate faith when discouragement sets in. It also fosters greater awareness of God's personalized care to meet our unique needs. As leaders we must take the initiative to establish regular patterns of worship, celebration, and reflection that consciously acknowledge God's faithfulness. This in turn keeps our vision rooted in Him rather than our circumstances. It anchors our identity in the provider rather than the provision. Our praise resounds deeply in God's heart, magnifying His glory and anchoring our dependency firmly in His limitless resources. Our persistent praise in the desert times clear the path for God's power to break through once again with fresh manna and flowing streams in due time (Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 105:1-3, Hebrews 13:15).
Food for Thought: Do I habitually set aside time to praise and thank God specifically for past seasons when He sustained me or provided exactly what was needed even though I lacked faith? In what ways can I practically and intentionally foster a culture and pattern of praise and gratitude among my team, congregation or family for God's faithful provision?
This passage demonstrates key leadership principles regarding confession, acknowledging God's grace, and praising God's provision that still apply today. As leaders we set the tone - our transparency, integrity, and reliance on the Lord impacts those who follow us. Therefore, we must first openly confess our own sins before God, receive His mercy, then lead our teams to do the same. This cleanses the heart and unites teams. We must also communicate our firm belief in the power of God's grace and mercy to redeem our flaws and failings. This uplifts others to get back up when they stumble. Additionally, we need to establish regular patterns of worship and testimony that recognize God's faithful provision in past seasons. This anchors our teams in praise rather than discouragement. As leaders guiding families, teams or churches, we shape the spiritual culture and climate. May we humbly lead the way toward repentance, grace, worship and steadfast reliance on our compassionate Heavenly Father. He stands ready to renew us so that we in turn can rebuild our communities on the firm foundation of Christ.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that You would help me to transparently confess my sins and shortcomings before You and trusted Christian friends rather than hide my failings. I ask that You give me humility and courage to open up honestly about ways I need to change and grow in order to lead by example with integrity. I pray that You would use me to create a culture of confession that draws my team and church together in unity, cleansing our hearts before You without condemnation. I also pray that You would help me communicate my belief in the power of Your grace and mercy at work in the middle of imperfections and failures in myself and those I lead. Use my words and actions to inspire faith in every person's potential because Christ lives within them. Additionally, Lord, I ask that You give me the wisdom to establish intentional patterns of worship, celebration, and testimony that recognize Your miraculous provision, guidance, and sustenance even in difficult seasons. Use me to anchor those I lead in praise and dependency on Your limitless heavenly resources rather than allowing discouragement to take root.
I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Nehemiah 9:21 - “Indeed, forty years You provided for them in the wilderness and they were not in want; Their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell.”
With His Blessings,
Pastor Corby
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