Brothers and Sisters,
This coming Sunday’s Old Testament lesson, from Nehemiah 9, serves as a stunning reminder that the Lord is faithful, even when we’re not. In the text, the Levites recount Israel’s history, and verses 16 and 17 really give an excellent preview of the rest of the text:
But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.
Israel, in the years following the Exodus, is not painted in a flattering light. God had graciously delivered them from slavery in Egypt. How did they respond? They refused to obey the Lord’s commandments. They weren’t grateful for all that the Lord had done for them. They even
desired to return to their slavery in Egypt!
It’s easy to judge them for that, but here’s the thing: we can find ourselves in a remarkably similar place. The Lord has rescued us and set
us free, but sometimes we stiffen our necks. Sometimes, we’re ungrateful for all that the Lord has done for us. We might refuse to obey
him when we should know better. If you’re ever in that place, remember that the Lord is ready to forgive, that he’s gracious and merciful. If we find ourselves stumbling, we should always remember that we can repent and return to him, and that we should do so without delay. We’ll
find that he’s abounding in steadfast love and will never forsake us.
In Christ,
Fr. Caleb Evans