“All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes.” Isaiah 65:2

Rebellion is Serious Stuff to God!

How long does it take for someone to realize their rebellious nature? As a “middle child,” I believe I came out of the womb rebellious. I liked to test my parents, and even more once I hit high school! Upon graduation, I was “in the wilderness and in rebellion” for 19 years, and I truly reaped the horrors of what I sowed, doing it “My Way” as Frank Sinatra once sang. I still squirm when I hear the word “rebellion” as I still can have an ornery side to my personality (temper too, but we’ll save that issue for another writing). The only times I have truly conceded, “Thank You, God” to being told what to do has been on my various jobs over the course of 45 years—the paycheck, of course, being the real incentive! A girl’s gotta live! Thankfully, perhaps with age, this problem seems to be getting better, but I am still working on it. Thank goodness God is a God of help—patient and kind!

I have been studying the Books of Moses, and have learned some things. As you may know, the Israelites were a rebellious, complaining lot (like me) and this required making various animal blood sacrifices to atone for their sins. In Chapter 32 of Exodus, God truly gets sick and tired of their whining, rebellious, stiff-necked nature and actually wants to “take them out” (YIKES!). God then offers to just make Moses alone into great nation. Thankfully, Moses intercedes for the people, and the Lord relents (my kind of man—way to go, Moe!). This whole study and this particular chapter make me so glad that Jesus is our “final and only” sacrifice for sin, and that He intercedes for us to God the Father!

Ezekiel 12:2 says, “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.” Rebellion is serious stuff. It blinds our eyes and shuts our ears from seeing and hearing God and His voice. I know we make God angry when we are in rebellion, but I think He grieves for us that we have chosen this way to live and act. But again, He is patient and kind, giving us so many chances to repent and get back on the right path.

Dear Lord, thank You for not giving up on me in this unpleasing, disobedient area of my walk with You. I am still a work in progress, and probably will be until You call me home. Please continue to help me in this challenging area of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.