“Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness.” Nehemiah 9:24-25
The Canaanites probably thought they were doing pretty well. Seven different people groups lived in the land God had promised to give Israel, and from the outside it looked like a great place to be. The Bible calls it a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8)—a fertile, productive land full of abundance. From the Canaanites’ point of view, all that success may have seemed like proof that their gods were blessing them. They worshiped El, Baal, Asherah, Dagon, Mot, Molech, and many others, and they may have believed their harvests, cities, and security were the payoff for their devotion. But they were wrong. The Lord had allowed Canaan to flourish, not because He approved of their idols, but because He was preparing that land for His people.
After Israel spent forty years learning hard lessons in the wilderness, God brought them into the land and gave them victory again and again. Nehemiah points out that Israel did not move into an empty wasteland. They received fortified cities they had not built, wells they had not dug, and vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees they had not planted. In other words, the blessing was already sitting there waiting for them. What looked like Canaanite success was actually part of God’s bigger plan to provide for Israel. Their comfortable life was real, but it did not mean they were right with God.
That is a good reminder for us too. It is easy to think, “Life is going pretty good, so God must be pleased with me.” A steady job, a nice home, dependable transportation, good health, or money in the bank can make us feel like we must be on the right track. But a comfortable life does not always mean an obedient heart. Prosperity is not the same thing as spiritual health. God’s kindness should make us humble and thankful, not careless. And on the other side, someone going through sickness, grief, financial stress, or uncertainty may be walking closely with the Lord. What is happening around us does not always tell the full story of what is happening inside us.
So let’s not judge where we stand with God only by how smooth life feels right now. The better question is not, “Is life going good?” but, “Am I walking with God?” Am I listening to His Word? Am I turning away from sin? Am I worshiping Him alone? Am I thanking Him for His gifts without assuming those gifts mean He approves of everything in my life? Blessings should draw us closer to God, not make us drift from Him. If life is going well, let that goodness lead you to gratitude, honest self-examination, and a deeper walk with the One who gives every good gift.
