Nehemiah 9:16-21

Although God looked after his people, they did not obey his law. He gave them food and water in the desert. But they did not remember all the good and wonderful things that God had done for them. Although God led them with the cloud and the fire, they asked Aaron, Moses’ brother, to make them another god. Aaron made a gold image of a young cow and the people *worshipped the image instead of the real God (Exodus 32:1-35).

This made God very angry. But he still loved his people. So he continued to look after them. He continued to lead them by the cloud and the fire. He continued to give them food and water. And he continued to teach them what they should do to please him.

Because the people would not believe God, they had to live in the desert for 40 years. They often did not obey God and they often made him angry. But he continued to look after them all the time (Exodus chapter 16; Numbers 9:15-23).

v22 ‘You gave them countries where kings had ruled.

You gave them nations.

You made these countries the borders of *Israel.

*Israel’s people took possession of the country of Sihon, king of Heshbon,

and the country of Og, king of Bashan.

v23 You made their *descendants

as many as the stars in the sky.

You brought them into the country

that you had told their *ancestors to enter and to possess.

v24 So their *descendants went in and they possessed this country.

The Canaanites were the people who lived in this country.

But you overcame the Canaanites for them.

You handed over the kings of the Canaanites

and the people of the country to our *ancestors.

They could do what they wanted to the Canaanites.

v25 Our *ancestors took possession of strong cities.

They took land that was good for their crops.

They took possession of houses that were

full of all kinds of good things.

They took wells that people had already dug.

They took *vineyards, *orchards, and plenty of fruit trees.

They ate until they were completely full.

They became fat.

They greatly enjoyed all the good things that you gave to them.’