Nehemiah 9:21 - “Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell.
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What does "Nehemiah 9:21" mean?
Nehemiah 9:21 is part of a prayer of confession by the Levites on behalf of the Israelites. It's a recounting of God's faithfulness and provision during the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. Let's break down the meaning of the verse:
"Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness." This highlights God's continuous support and provision for the Israelites for a very long period, despite their unfaithfulness and rebellion. The wilderness was a harsh and unforgiving environment, yet God kept them alive.
"They lacked nothing." This underscores the completeness of God's provision. They were not in want of food, water, or shelter. It emphasizes God's abundant care. This is reinforced by the following two statements.
"Their clothes didn’t grow old..." This is often interpreted as a miraculous element of God's provision. Their clothing, which would normally wear out over such a long time, remained intact. This is a sign of God's extraordinary care and protection. It's a tangible example of how God supernaturally provided for their needs. Some scholars also interpret this as having enough resources to repair their clothes over the 40 years.
"...and their feet didn’t swell." This again points to God's miraculous care. The constant walking on rough terrain would have caused severe swelling and blisters, making it difficult for them to travel. The fact that their feet remained healthy demonstrates God's protection from physical discomfort and disability.
In essence, this verse conveys the following key messages:
God's unwavering faithfulness: Despite the Israelites' repeated disobedience and grumbling, God remained committed to them and provided for their needs.
God's miraculous provision: The verse emphasizes that God's provision went beyond the natural and included elements of the supernatural, like clothes not wearing out and feet not swelling.
God's sufficiency: They lacked nothing. God supplied all their needs in the wilderness.
A contrast with Israel's unfaithfulness: The verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's goodness in contrast to Israel's lack of appreciation and obedience.
The purpose of recounting these events in Nehemiah 9 is to confess the sins of the nation and acknowledge God's righteousness. By remembering God's past faithfulness, the Israelites are reminded of God's character and are encouraged to repent and return to Him. This remembrance motivates humility and a desire to live in obedience to God's covenant.
Nehemiah 9:21 - “Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell.
What does "Nehemiah 9:21" mean?
Nehemiah 9:21 is part of a prayer of confession by the Levites on behalf of the Israelites. It's a recounting of God's faithfulness and provision during the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. Let's break down the meaning of the verse:
"Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness." This highlights God's continuous support and provision for the Israelites for a very long period, despite their unfaithfulness and rebellion. The wilderness was a harsh and unforgiving environment, yet God kept them alive.
"They lacked nothing." This underscores the completeness of God's provision. They were not in want of food, water, or shelter. It emphasizes God's abundant care. This is reinforced by the following two statements.
"Their clothes didn’t grow old..." This is often interpreted as a miraculous element of God's provision. Their clothing, which would normally wear out over such a long time, remained intact. This is a sign of God's extraordinary care and protection. It's a tangible example of how God supernaturally provided for their needs. Some scholars also interpret this as having enough resources to repair their clothes over the 40 years.
"...and their feet didn’t swell." This again points to God's miraculous care. The constant walking on rough terrain would have caused severe swelling and blisters, making it difficult for them to travel. The fact that their feet remained healthy demonstrates God's protection from physical discomfort and disability.
In essence, this verse conveys the following key messages:
God's unwavering faithfulness: Despite the Israelites' repeated disobedience and grumbling, God remained committed to them and provided for their needs.
God's miraculous provision: The verse emphasizes that God's provision went beyond the natural and included elements of the supernatural, like clothes not wearing out and feet not swelling.
God's sufficiency: They lacked nothing. God supplied all their needs in the wilderness.
A contrast with Israel's unfaithfulness: The verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's goodness in contrast to Israel's lack of appreciation and obedience.
The purpose of recounting these events in Nehemiah 9 is to confess the sins of the nation and acknowledge God's righteousness. By remembering God's past faithfulness, the Israelites are reminded of God's character and are encouraged to repent and return to Him. This remembrance motivates humility and a desire to live in obedience to God's covenant.