In Nehemiah, chapter nine, verse seventeen, the Lord is a gracious and compassionate God. Therefore, He is ready to accept those who have forsaken Him and sinned against His laws whenever they repent. Moreover, He is patient and longsuffering with the faults and shortcomings of His children, as long as they express a desire to follow Him fully and to gain complete victory over sin, Satan, and the world.
The theme verse is a part of Ezra’s prayer to God, where in the beginning, he expresses that there is no one like Him. The prayer from Ezra continues in the example of how Abraham was obedient not holding back even to the test of his own family. Admirable trial of his faith and obedience, in requiring him to offer up his only son Isaac, by discovering his faithfulness, which was well known and wrought in him by the grace of God. Ezra mentions the Lord hearing the cry of His people in verses nine through ten concerning them in Egypt and bringing signs and wonders to Pharoah. Departing the Red Sea, leading the chosen people by a cloudy pillar by day and a pillar of fire by night, in verse twelve.
Ezra continues prayerfully about servant Moses and how God gave the commandments from heaven, providing bread from heaven for their hunger and water from the rock for their thirst in verse fifteen. However, Ezra mentions in his prayer to God about the prideful behavior of the people, portraying the behavior of the Egyptians refusing to obey in verses sixteen through seventeen. Still, Ezra states that God’s mercy and grace are ready to pardon them when they repent.
Ezra demonstrates how simple prayer can be to God if we lay out what is on our hearts and are honest with Him about the situation. Acknowledge what God can do with a faithful outlook, allowing Him the time and patience to intervene on our behalf.