Nehemiah 9:16-18

“But they, our forefathers, became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey your commands. 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them. 18 Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies.”

God continued to be with his people even while they were rebelling and going their own way. They were committing awful blasphemies, they had made themselves an idol to worship, replacing God as their deliverer. They seemed to have forgotten all they had been delivered from and just who did that delivering. They appointed a leader who fulfilled their desires, thought the way they wanted him to think, and did those things they wanted to do. They forgot God, but He did not forget them. Despite their repeated sin and offenses, God remained faithful and true. The same can be said for us, how many times have we wandered away, wanting our own way, desiring those things the flesh cries out for, sinning, sometimes great sins, making the things of this world our idols?

Despite our repeated offenses, just like he was with his people, he remains with us. We are stubborn, prideful, and full of all kinds of lusts and sin, yet God remains, always ready to pardon us when we repent and turn back to him. Why would God do that? Because He is a forgiving God, gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love for his children. God waits for us to realize our sins and our need for him. He is patient in waiting for us to say, ‘I’ve had enough, God forgive me!’ He is slow to anger, aren’t you thankful that He is slow to anger? I know I am.
Too many times in my own life have I gone after things that displeased my God, I sinned, presuming upon His grace and mercy. But God waited for me to return, He let his anger burn slow and his compassion burn bright. I am so thankful that He did not treat me as my sin deserved.

Sometimes it may feel like “you got away with it,” but you didn’t. Even though God is patient and willing to forgive, and will forgive; he does not always remove the consequences of our sin from us, but he does remove the condemnation from us.

If you find yourself in a place where you are going your own way, or you are involved in something that you know is against what God wants for you, or you are in full-blown rebellion and sin, just know our ever-present, all-seeing, full of compassion and slow to anger God is waiting on you to repent and turn, and when you do, He will forgive you and wrap his arms of love around you and say, ‘welcome back my child.’

The devil will try to convince you that God has left you, that you cannot come back from whatever it is, and that you are too far gone. It is a lie! Remember, if he is talking, he is lying! Because he is the father of lies!
He wants to keep you bound in your sin and disobedience because he knows if you ever truly remember who God is, he no longer has a hold on you. Don’t let shame keep you away. Don’t let fear keep you bound. Remember who God is, read his word, and rest assured that when you decide to be done with those things that keep you bound, he will embrace you and love you.

Remembering God’s great forgiveness for us should make it much easier to forgive those who have offended or hurt us in some way. No matter how often forgiveness is needed, even 70×7. We are never permitted to be unforgiving, remember that the next time you feel justified in holding on to unforgiveness. It will do more damage to you than the person you are angry with. Unforgiveness eats away at you like cancer, free yourself of its baggage.

My prayer is that if you are in rebellion and sin, you will come running back to the Lord, you will repent of your sin and seek God with your whole heart, knowing that God is there, waiting and willing to accept you and forgive you. I pray that you will be a forgiver like Jesus and that you will desire the things of God.

People time is running out, our world is falling apart, and now is the time for refreshing in Jesus. We can see how the decision to remove God from everything is playing out in our society and government. We need to repent and return both individually and as a nation. Let it start with you! Don’t become stiff-necked and rebellious.