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Nehemiah
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

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Studies in Nehemiah                                                                                                                    Lesson 17

A GENERAL HISTORY OF ISRAEL FROM ABRAHAM THROUGH NEHEMIAH

Nehemiah 9

Part 3

Intro.

       Nehemiah 9 is primarily a history of the nation of Israel from its beginning as a nation up to the time of Nehemiah.

I.     THE THEME OF THIS HISTORY. Neh. 9:5-6

       A.    Throughout this history the emphasis is on exaltation and vindication of the Lord. Neh. 9:5

       B.    Background information on God is given which qualifies Him as the ultimate authority and being over Israel and every other people. Neh. 9:6

II.    THE ABRAHAMIC ERA. (9:7-8)

       A.    The nation of Israel is God's idea. Neh. 9:7

       B.    God made a covenant with Abraham. Neh. 9:8

       C.    The fatherhood of Abraham extended not only to a physical nation, the Jews; it extended to a spiritual nation of believers in Jesus Christ.

III.   THE EGYPTIAN ERA. Neh. 9:9-10

       A.    The emphasis of this part of the history is on the ill that came upon the Egyptians as a direct result of their mistreatment of the Jews.

       B.    The Egyptians were in a position to have the upper hand on the Jews.

       C.    God, who knows exactly where His people are at every moment, dealt harshly with the Egyptians as a direct result of their mistreatment of His people.

       D.    God gained fame far and wide in view of what He did to the Egyptians.

IV.   THE EXODUS ERA. Neh. 9:11-14

       A.    The miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. Neh. 9:11

       B.    God's divine protection. Neh. 9:12

       C     God's giving of the law. Neh. 9:13-14

V.     THE WILDERNESS ERA. Neh. 9:15-23

       A.    God's faithful and generous provision for His people. Neh. 9:15

               1.    God met Israel's every need.

                      a.     "Bread" & "water."

                      b.    They lacked nothing necessary to their welfare. Deut. 8:2-4.

                      Study notes:

                             What promise do we have of God's provision for us? Ps. 37:25. Heb. 13:5. Phil. 4:19.

               2.     God met their needs in ways that seemed impossible.

                      a.     Food in the Sinai region would seem and impossibility for such a multitude.

                      b.    The manna by morning and quails by evening along with other food provisions were nothing short of miraculous. Exodus 16.

                      c.     Water from a dry rock was also miraculous. Exodus 17:1-6.

                      Study notes:

                             Discuss the fact that God sometimes meets our needs "in" the trouble and not "from" it.

               3.     God promised them Canaan, a promise that seemed impossible.

                      a.     Consider Israel's military capacity at the time.

                      b.    Consider Canaan's strength at the time. Numbers 13-14.

       B.     The sins which defeated Israel. Neh. 9:16-17

               1.    Pride. "They & our father's proudly." Prov. 16:18. Prov. 8:13.

               2.    Rebellion. "hardened their necks, & in their rebellion." 1 Sam. 15:23.

               3.    Disobedience. "Refused to obey." Isaiah 48:18.

               4.    Blindness to the workings of God among them.

                      "Neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them." Isaiah 1:2-4.

               Study notes:

                      What are the sins that have defeated you?

       C.     The patience and mercy of God. Neh. 9:17 Lam. 3:22-23. Isa. 55:7.

       D.    Israel's preservation in the wilderness by God in spite of their sins. Neh. 9:18-21 Numbers 11:1-21:9.

       E.    God's preparations to bring Israel into the promised land. Neh. 9:22-23, Numbers 21:10-24:25.

VI.   THE CONQUEST ERA. Neh. 9:24-25

       A.    They took the land of Canaan and became rich therein.

               1.    These verses are mainly a summary of the book of Joshua.

               2.    Their conquest was not without great resistance. "Strong cities...kings...people of the land." The might of the giants, cities like Jericho and Hazor and the great armies like that of Jabin is awesome to consider. The land itself is quite rugged and forbidding, especially in certain areas.

               3.    In spite of all obstacles, they took and "possessed the land."

               4.    They were able to "do with them (the people) as they would."

               5.    Furthermore they became very prosperous in the land. It was already rich when they arrived and they took what was there and became even richer. "They became fat and delighted themselves in thy goodness."

               Study notes:

                      Compare Israel at this time to America. Compare our prosperity with theirs.

       B.     The credit for their great victories & success goes to God.

               1.    In this review, they were reminded that it was "thy great goodness" that made this land theirs. 1 Cor. 4:7.

               2.    Note well verse 24. God makes very clear the fact that they had success only because He "subduedst the land (& it's inhabitants)...before them." Had it not been for the strong arm of God on their behalf, they would surely have perished before their foes.

               Study notes:

                      What have you learned from this lesson about the source your successes?

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"