Here we are today, slaves in the land You gave our ancestors so that they could enjoy its fruit and its goodness. Here we are – slaves in it! Nehemiah 9:36
My son, Jonathan, who lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee owns a 1966 red Ford Mustang that is housed in my garage because he does not have a safe place to keep it. Since he does not live in Shepherdsville, Kentucky he cannot enjoy driving his Mustang very often even though he is the rightful owner.
The Israelites had been given the promised land years prior to this verse being written by Nehemiah. They technically owned it, but because of their sin and rebellion against God, they were slaves of a foreign king and no longer enjoyed the benefits of owning the land. The king had allowed them to return to their land but only with slave status, a high price to pay for their unwise choices.
Challenge: God desires to give us lives with abundance, but too often our sin and rebellion against God cause us to suffer instead of enjoying life. As believers, we own the blessing of being children of God, but we are unable to enjoy it to the fullest because of our unwise choices. Are you a slave to your own sin? Thank God for His unending love and faithfulness. Ask Him to forgive you and help you to enjoy the abundant life that He wants you to have.