God’s Promises Fulfilled
By: Patty Nicholas-Boyte
Nehemiah 9:22-25 (NASB)
“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. “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. “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. “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.”
As the Israelite people dedicate of the re-built walls, Ezra, the high priest continues in his sermon. Here he is re-telling of God’s faithfulness to His people. After they had been delivered from bondage in Egypt and wandered the desert for forty years, they finally entered into the land of promise. And just as God had promised, the kings and people who occupied the land before them, became their possession. Verses 23-25 tells us they not only possessed the land, they also thrived. Every good thing was given to them.
God was faithful to His promise. They possessed the land, they prospered in God’s provision and the Israelite people were fruitful, and multiplied in number during the time of prosperity. God is faithful to His word. We can trust Him.
What I noticed in this passage were a few things. One is the answer to His promise took many years and most of those who the heard the promise died in the wilderness before they saw the fulfilment. Their children saw the answer. The second thing I noticed, is those who did not enter into the land were the ones who died wandering the wilderness because of disobedience.
However, to the ones who remained faithful to God, they received all that God spoke about years earlier. They entered into a land with houses they did not build and wells they did not have to dig, and fields and vineyards they did not plant. God’s provision for His people is perfect.
What can we learn from Nehemiah?
- After a dry season, God’s blessings will flow.
- Some of God’s promises may be for our children to see fulfilled.
- Don’t give up on my prayers if I don’t see answers right away.
- Look forward to the abundance of His blessings to come.
It took a long dry season for God to get His people to learn to trust Him for food, water and clothing, their very existence. When they had come to a place of total surrender and a close walk with Him, they entered into His promise and to a place of amazing abundance.
Matthew 6:30-32 (NASB)
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
What questions can we ask ourselves that can affect change?
- What promises is God giving me that I have been waiting to see an answer?
- Are there promises made to our parents that we can claim the fulfillment?
- Are there areas of disobedience in our lives that are holding back God’s answers?
- What can we do to be thankful and trust God in the provision during the dry season?
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