DISOBEDIENCE
To say that we are born with a tendency to disobey is another way to say that we all have a tendency, from birth, to sin. All children, for example, seem to want to test their parents by pushing the limits of what they can do. If told not to do something, go somewhere, or be with somebody that is usually what they want to do or go or be with. It’s being disobedient and many times it’s just shrugged off as being cute, or kids just being kids, or of not great consequence. That is, of course, until something serious happens.
Adults are really no different. We are given laws to follow but many times think nothing of exceeding or breaking them in some small way. After all, if no-one is injured or interfered with in some way and if there is no property damage then does it really make a difference? It’s done all the time and no one seems to be the worse for it, providing no one gets caught.
But the Bible indicates that God may not be as lenient as we are when it comes to seemingly minor episodes of disobedience. Time and again, it reveals God’s reaction to so called “minor indiscretions.” For example, we all know the story of Adam and Eve and their defiance regarding God’s orders and the forbidden fruit, as told to us in Genesis chapter 3. On the surface, not an exceptionally huge disobedience, but it was a defiance of God’s instruction and it was enough for God to change the course of the world.
Then God told man to “…Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…” (Genesis 1:28) and He meant just that. Man, however, decided to “…build ourselves a city, and a tower…let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth…” (Genesis 11:4). Once again humans were being disobedient to God and as a result God punished them with that which they feared. He “…scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth…” (Genesis 11:8)
Even such a simple thing such as turning around when commanded not to can lead to severe punishment. During the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the angel said: “…Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain…” Genesis 19:17) but the wife of Lot “…looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).
What about Moses himself, the one who worked so hard for God in bringing the Hebrew people out of Egypt? He was told to “…Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water to them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals” (Numbers 20:8). But “…Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’” (Numbers 20:11-12). A simple act of disobedience but still punished in spite of all that Moses had apparently done before.
Choosing to obey or disobey can make a huge difference even if the disobedience seems to be minor. In Deuteronomy it says very clearly:
See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statues, and His judgements, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you…But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days…I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days…” (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).
So are we today still disobedient to what Good says? After all, He has said that Christ is “…the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through (Him)” (John 14:6). Are we obedient to this? It has been shown many times in the past that even minor indiscretions can lead to major repercussions. So how about this last one? Will God be as lenient with our disobedience in not following Christ as we often are when our children or others do not follow our directions? We will someday find out, for after all, we have been warned.
In the meantime, it’s certainly something to think about.
No comments:
Post a Comment