Monday - The Word That Changes Everything

Nehemiah 9:17 – “And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.”

Have you ever noticed how one little word can flip a whole sentence? "You did a great job... but." And everything before the "but" just disappeared. The word "but" erases everything in front of it.

Now watch how the Levites pray in Nehemiah 9. For fifteen verses it's pure grace. God created the heavens. God called Abraham. God split the Red Sea, led them with the cloud and the fire, and fed them bread from heaven. Then comes verse 16. "But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments." After everything He had done, they turned on Him anyway.

That should have been the end. But look at verse 17. "But thou art a God ready to pardon." Their "but" of rebellion ran headlong into His "but" of grace. And His won.

And it's all over your Bible. "Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good" (Genesis 50:20). "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever" (Psalm 73:26).

Think about it: What part of your story feels like it should have been the end? What would change if you believed God still has the last word?