Neh 9:24 | KingComments | STEP | God had not only surrounded them with His care, He had also helped them to take possession of kingdoms and nations. The land of Sihon and the land of Og are mentioned by name. These are the first kingdoms that Israel had to take possession of even before they crossed the Jordan. Furthermore, the LORD has blessed them with numerous offspring, so that they could populate the land. This offspring has been commanded to take possession of what the LORD had promised their fathers. They have done so, helped by the LORD Who gave the inhabitants of the land in their power. He has given them a free hand to do with those nations what they wanted. In doing so, He had put them to the test. Would they act with those nations as He commanded? He had told them to exterminate the inhabitants. Because of their unfaithfulness, the roles have been reversed. The nations reign over them, and the nations do with them as they please ( ). Their conquest of the land threw a treasure of blessings into their lap. They have feasted upon it. That is lawful. It has all come within their reach by the grace of God. God wants to give His people everything to enjoy. He wishes, however, to be involved, to be recognized as the Giver, and for His people to thank and honor Him for it. This is not an ambition of God, as it would be with us. He knows that enjoyment without Him leads to selfishness and excesses, from which much evil arises. Enjoyment without Him has a devastating effect on the relationship between people. Where the bond with Him is broken, the bond between people is also broken.

‏ Nehemiah 9:24

What the LORD Has Given

God had not only surrounded them with His care, He had also helped them to take possession of kingdoms and nations. The land of Sihon and the land of Og are mentioned by name. These are the first kingdoms that Israel had to take possession of even before they crossed the Jordan.

Furthermore, the LORD has blessed them with numerous offspring, so that they could populate the land. This offspring has been commanded to take possession of what the LORD had promised their fathers. They have done so, helped by the LORD Who gave the inhabitants of the land in their power. He has given them a free hand to do with those nations what they wanted. In doing so, He had put them to the test. Would they act with those nations as He commanded? He had told them to exterminate the inhabitants. Because of their unfaithfulness, the roles have been reversed. The nations reign over them, and the nations do with them as they please (Neh 9:37).

Their conquest of the land threw a treasure of blessings into their lap. They have feasted upon it. That is lawful. It has all come within their reach by the grace of God. God wants to give His people everything to enjoy. He wishes, however, to be involved, to be recognized as the Giver, and for His people to thank and honor Him for it.

This is not an ambition of God, as it would be with us. He knows that enjoyment without Him leads to selfishness and excesses, from which much evil arises. Enjoyment without Him has a devastating effect on the relationship between people. Where the bond with Him is broken, the bond between people is also broken.