The Cost of Disobedience
“… They did not obey the LORD.”
Psalm 106:25b (GW)
Complaining and disobedience cost an entire generation in the nation of Israel the pleasant land God intended to give them. Like a defiant two-year-old, they tried God’s patience and forfeited His blessing. Psalm 106:24-26 (GW) says, “They refused {to enter} the pleasant land. They did not believe what He said. They complained in their tents. They did not obey the LORD. Raising His hand, He swore that He would kill them in the wilderness.” Only after that generation that left Egypt died did the next generation enter the promised land of blessing. Only two men from that generation survived to enter, Joshua and Caleb, two of the faithful spies who believed God and obeyed His Word. It would take 40 years for that first generation to die off in the wilderness before the next could enter.
God left the record of Israel’s failure in the wilderness for a reason. In 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (NLT), Paul writes, “These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” In other words, we have an opportunity to learn from their mistakes so we don’t make the same ones. Israel shows us that what God has blessed in a nation, He can humble if that nation forsakes Him. We must be careful. This is a critical time in our nation. Like Israel, we’ve been unmistakably blessed by God. We’ve experienced His undeserved favor! Yet, too often, we have not done what God has told us to do.
The lesson from Israel is that disobedience leads to death. Their disobedience grew out of their complaints and unbelief and led to open defiance of God’s commands. In the New Testament, the Bible says that the wage of sin is death. But there’s hope! That’s the good news of the Gospel! Romans 6:23 goes on to say, “… but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” The promised land God offers today is an abundant life through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Have you received that gift? Do it today. Open your heart to Jesus Christ and thank Him for the grace and forgiveness He offers you freely. Turn from your life of disobedience and commit your life to follow Him! The Bible says, “Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3 (NLT)
In John 14:21 (NLT), Jesus told His followers, “Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them.”
When we repent of not doing what God has told us to do and begin to obey His commands something amazing begins to happen! Jesus begins to reveal more of Himself to us! Oswald Chambers says it like this, “Obey God in the thing He shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. … The tiniest fragment of obedience, and heaven opens, and the profoundest truths of God are yours straight away. God will never reveal more truth about Himself until you have obeyed what you know already.” What is it you know God wants you to do? Maybe it’s something He is telling you to stop doing. If disobedience brings death, obedience brings blessing. Take that tiny step of obedience today and experience more of God than you’ve ever known! It may just change a nation!
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.