“For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?”
Deuteronomy 31:27 KJV
Romans 5:6-8 says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
God loved us enough to send His only begotten Son to die for us, even while we were in a continuous state of rebellion against Him. But once we know Christ as Savior, we are to honor God with our worship, praise, and obedience.
Ephesians 5:2 says, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
After all, He spared us from eternal darkness and everlasting torment. That’s something to rejoice about.
Psalm 78:7-8 says, “That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.”
It was God’s hope that Israel would set their hope in Him and not forget His works, but keep His commandments, yet time and time again, they rebelled against God.
According to the dictionary, rebellion means open resistance to authority. God is the ultimate authority – not just Israel’s authority, but all of creation is to obey Him. The lost don’t understand that. They are slaves to sin and simply follow their lusts. Are they living in rebellion? Yes, whether or not they realize it. But God’s children are called to higher standards – to a life of holiness and obedience.
Consider how God views rebellion. I Samuel 15:23 says, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…”
Stubbornness is just as bad as rebellion. God refers to the stubborn as stiff-necked because they refuse to yield to Him. I believe that God hates rebellion almost as much as He hates pride, and here’s why: there are seven abominable sins in the eyes of the Lord.
Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
- A proud look,
- A lying tongue,
- And hands that shed innocent blood,
- An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
- Feet that be swift in running to mischief,
- A false witness that speaketh lies,
- And he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Which of these detestable sins is not caused by a rebellious spirit? They are all caused by rebellion. And Proverbs 29:1 says, “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”