The Daily Fountain Devotional Thursday, July 21, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Thursday, July 21, 2022
Thursday, July 21,2022
TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF REBELLION
TEXT: Ezekiel 20:21-38
21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. 23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. 25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; 26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. 27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
28 For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings. 29 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. 30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you. 32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. 33 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: 38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Thursday, July 21, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
God warned His people about the consequences of disobedience and rebellion in Deuteronomy 28:15ff. In our text today, God accused the children of Israel of rebelling against Him and through His Prophet, made them to know the consequences of their actions. He accused them of not walking in His statutes and not observing His judgment. (v.21a). The verdict of God on these rebellious children of Israel was that He would pour out His fury on them and fulfil His anger against them (v.21b).
Disobedience always attracts God's punishment; God does not celebrate the rebellious but looks favourably at those who tremble at His word. There are devastating experiences for those who turn against the word of God. Whatever causes a man to turn away from the will of God is more or less an idol. Anything that takes over the place of God in your life, or your devotion and commitment to God is tantamount to idolatry and rebellion. There is virtually no gain in rebellion. As a matter of fact, it is compared with witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). Rebellion is disobedience and it is the opposite of living right. You do not need to experience the consequences of disobedience before you devote yourself to righteous living. In case you are currently reaping the fruits of your rebellion, it is the desire of God that henceforth you amend your ways and be determined to obediently follow Him even when it is not convenient.
Food for Thought: The Kingdom of God is not for the anointed but for the obedient.