Can today’s Christians realize the punishment in await of rebelling against the will of God?. The Bible says Obedience to God would bring you many blessings, and nothing can take away the reward.
How does it feel to be a parent and your wards are breaking down all the rules and regulations you give them?. Would you be pleased with them?. You would likely stop helping them in so many ways. This is a relevant example for Christians to understand why obedience to God is very important.
You would cry for help and God wouldn’t answer. Because you are not obeying his word. Put down your ego and exalt Him in everything you do.
It all began when your grandfather did something stupid!. I mean our grandfather Adam disobeyed God in the garden of Eden. Then mankind’s heart got corrupted with sin. And sin is a rebellion against God!.
Now, there is no need to slaughter ram or bull for sacrifice. The Lord isn’t interested in sacrifices anymore. Today, there is remission of sin through Christ Jesus.
According to the Bible, many characters showed antagonistic behaviors towards God and felt his anger and punishment.
Well, in this post, I will explain to you why God wants you to be obedient to him. Disobedience is a sin of rebellion against our maker who has set natural laws for the entire universe to obey.
You are supposed to enjoy your “gift of free will” but not against the will of God. Even angels do have this freedom which is governed by what we know “cause and effect.” Whether you deserve to be rewarded by God or punished by God depends on how you walk with Him.
Obedience to God shows respect to Him. It also demonstrates the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom
Honestly, He wouldn’t spare you if you harden your heart against his will. The little disobedience you do against God may have a serious impact on your life. Take the life of King Saul for example.
I believe it Is necessary to build this content around the misbehavior of King Saul. He showed just single disobedience to God and it brought him a whole lot of troubles:
1. The Spirit of God left him
2. He lost his Kingship to the throne of Israel
3. God exposed him to be destroyed by his successor David but David spared him his life.
4. The whole of Israel gave their love and support to David instead of Saul. This aggravated his miserable life.
Now the question is what did Saul do to deserve all these?. He disobeyed God!. Below is what happened after going after his own will(conversation between Samuel the priest and King Saul):
“The LORD sent you on a campaign saying, ‘Go and exterminate those sinful Amalekites! Fight against them until you have destroyed them.’ Why haven’t you obeyed the LORD? Instead, you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the LORD’s estimation.” Then Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the LORD! I went on the campaign the LORD sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites. But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle – the best of what was to be slaughtered – to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.” Then Samuel said, “Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as King” (1 Samuel 15:18-23).
It is because of him that this phrase:
“Obedience is better than sacrifice” has been very common on the lips of almost every Christian. It reminds us to obey God’s word all the time.
Other Bible Lessons About Obedience To God
Now you have a clear understanding that rebellion to God’s word is a sin. It attracts the appropriate punishment. Any Biblical character who tried to circumvent the will of God felt the result of His righteous judgment. Whether you do ‘this’ or ‘not’; the will of God would be fulfilled.
In view of that let everything you do please Him. There are consequences and repercussions for disobeying God. Apostle Paul wrote:
“and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ. We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete” (2 Corinthians 10:5-6).
Some Bible Characters Who Disobeyed God
Have a look at these people or Bible characters who disobeyed God and had a fair share of God’s righteousness judgment:
1. Samson
The story of Samson points to the will of God to free Israel from oppression. Samson, being the mouthpiece of Israel’s redemption disobeyed God on several occasions. He broke everything he was told to obey. However, God still used him to fulfill his will which cost him his very dear life. He met his tragic death in the hands of God’s enemies(The Philistines).
2. Jonah
This man refused to deliver God’s message to the people of Nineveh who were bathing in all kinds of sins. Why did he try to hide? Because he was afraid of being persecuted by those sinners if he delivers God’s message. He was a fool enough trying to hide from the presence of an omniscient God!.
In an attempt to run away, he got exposed. He did not want to show obedience to God. So He taught him a lesson by letting a whale swallow him up. He spent 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the big fish(Jonah 1:17).
It is obvious that; that rebellion child of God called Jonah starved for all those 3 days. Thank God He still protected him with his unfailing love. Finally, he renewed his mind and ended up at Nineveh to do what God told him.
3. Moses
Moses of all people, who had several direct conversations with God also showed some level of disobedience. However, God’s unfailing love kept being with him until he finally died without stepping a foot on the promised land. A land full of milk and honey. What did Moses even fall short of?.
Just read the verses below and figure out how Moses disobeyed God just like King Saul. God takes rebellion as a serious threat. And indeed, obedience is better than sacrifice.
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses:
“Take the staff and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and then speak to the rock before their eyes. It will pour forth its water, and you will bring water out of the rock for them, and so you will give the community and their beasts water to drink.” So Moses took the staff from before the LORD, just as he commanded him.
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock, and he said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?”
Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff. And water came out abundantly. So the community drank, and their beasts drank too” (Numbers 20:7-11).
Did you find the shortfall of Moses?. He struck the rock twice. He wanted the glory for himself. Meanwhile, God told him to “speak to the rock.”
Be meek and obedient to God just like Abraham and surely the Lord will bless you. He said this to Abraham:
“Because you have obeyed me, all the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants” (Genesis 22:18)
4. Pharaoh
Pharaoh for instance vowed to disobey God…”Who is the LORD that I should obey …”(Exodus 5:2). His heart got hardened that he will never release the Israelites from oppression.
At least we know how God punished him and all his subjects before he threw in the towel at a great loss. They should have shown obedience to God to prevent all the plagues.
These few Bible characters and many others did not show obedience to God. And they never got themselves off the hook. Although many weren’t enemies of God but His children. He did not spare them the rod of discipline. You are not an exception so be careful how you feed your own pride against God’s will.
Disobedience to God would have its own punishment. Don’t be part of the sons of disobedience because the dreadful day of the Lord is fast approaching.
“Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6).
Promises of Good for Covenant Obedience
These promises that enshrine the saying “obedience is better than sacrifice” extends to our modern Christian believers through Christ Jesus.
Remember, there is a condition attached to it. The condition is “if.” So the choice is yours!. Yes! We have been redeemed by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ; yet we are bound to incline our ears to his word and be a doer of it.
“If you obey these ordinances and are careful to do them, the LORD your God will faithfully keep covenant with you as he promised your ancestors.
He will love and bless you, and make you numerous. He will bless you with many children, with the produce of your soil, your grain, your new wine, your oil, the offspring of your oxen, and the young of your flocks in the land which he promised your ancestors to give you.
You will be blessed beyond all peoples; there will be no barrenness among you or your livestock.
The LORD will protect you from all sickness, and you will not experience any of the terrible diseases that you knew in Egypt; instead, he will inflict them on all those who hate you” (Deuteronomy 7:12-15).
Jesus Christ Demonstrated How Obeying God Brings Many Blessings
Our Savior who took on human flesh humbled himself and obeyed everything God wants him to do. Through his obedience, we have been redeemed from the penalty of our sins.
“For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).
“Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered. And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).
God detests any sinful act because He is Holy. Put him first before anything else. Just like what the Bible has said; search for God and his righteousness first and all other things shall be added unto you. Ask Him to direct your path and give you the patience, understanding, and the strength to obey Him at all times.
Final Thoughts About Being Obedient To God
We know this ancient God never changes and He never lies; because he is not a man. His word is out there for everyone to hear and obey.
You would be greatly rewarded for doing the will of God. On the flip side; you would feel the pang of pains of his rod of discipline. So search through your heart; get rid of any rebellious life against the will of God. Your obedience to God would surely pay off.
Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you to obey God at all times. And surely, you would see his favor in your life. Amen. Stay blessed.
About Author
