Tues.’s Devo - Learn From Their Mistakes

Read: Nehemiah 9:22-10:39; 1 Corinthians 9;19-10:13; Psalm 34:1-10a; Proverbs 21:13
Nehemiah continues his retelling of Israel’s history. God had given them victory over the inhabitants of the land yet they were disobedient and rebelled against the Lord and his law. Even in their rebellion, God remained faithful to Israel. In his goodness, he turned them over to be slaves to other kings so that they could see the error of their ways and turn back to him. So they made a covenant to turn from their past life and follow the law and do what it said. They would give to the Lord what he required and not neglect the house of God.
In the Old Testament disobedience made them slaves but in the New Testament Paul who was free chose to become a slave to Christ that he might win others.
He explained the spiritual significance of the Old Testament. The children of Israel ate the passover lamb signifying salvation and the blood of Jesus. Then they went through the Red Sea which symbolized their baptism. They ate the manna which was their spiritual food like the Word of God is ours. They drank water from the spiritual rock which stood for Jesus. Everything they went through was to teach us spiritual lessons. They were an example for us not to follow. They set their hearts on following evil and it brought them bondage. We don’t have to experience that if we learn from their mistakes. God will make a way of escape from every temptation we face.
Lord, help us to learn from the mistakes of the children of Israel and choose wisely. We are blessed because we take refuge in You. Thank you that our faces are never covered with shame because we walk under the shadow of the most High.