DISOBEDIENCE

Disobedience can be defined as the refusal to obey someone higher than you or in authority or refusal to obey or keep certain rules and regulation attached to an organization. It is also an act of failing to behave as told or taught. It is also refusal to comply.

FORMS OF DISOBEDIENCE

v  PROUDLY REFUSING TO OBEY: This is when someone refuses to obey because of pride. The person involved feels that he/she is too big to obey someone or an authority. Let’s take the case of Pharaoh for an example- when Pharaoh was approached by Moses, he first scorned the word of God given through Moses. God had to force him to obey but he demonstrated his pride and disobedience by going after the Israelites when they were leaving so as to still keep them as his slaves against God’s command.

v  PARTIAL OBEDIENCE: Partial obedience is also disobedience. This is when a person doesn’t obey to the fullest. You obey some and leave some maybe because you feel that no one should tamper with that aspect of your life.

v  OBDIENCE WITH COMPLAINTS: This is when a person obeys God, someone or authority with complaints or fear. This will be likened to the Israelites in the scripture. When the Israelites finally reached the border of the Promised Land. Moses sent out Ten (10) spies to go and spy the land of Canaan but eight (8) faithless spies came back with bad report and caused them to fear and complain. God was able and ready to lead them in, and yet the Israelites became afraid of the giants, armies and fortified cities. It was this fear and complaints that caused them to disobey Gods instructions and directions. Instead of following Gods direction that would have taken them forty (40) days, they followed their route and the consequence was forty (40) years in the wilderness.

v  DELAYED DISOBEDIENCE: This is also a form of disobedience. This is when a person reluctantly obeys God, someone or authority. It means that the person didn’t obey immediately and maybe the person has seen the consequences of the disobedience. Much like a misbehaving child rushing to obey his father or mother when he sees that the father or mother is coming towards him/her with a cane.

v  OBEDIENCE IN ANGER: This is also a form of disobedience. This is when a person obeys God, someone or authority with anger in his heart. This kind of disobedience does not come from the heart. When you obey with anger in your heart, there is bound to be a mistake. Its either, you don’t do it the way it ought to be done or you don’t receive blessings after that. Let’s see the case of Moses. In a moment of anger, Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded, though God still brought forth water for them to drink but for this sin, Moses was no allowed to enter the Promised Land.

v  QUESTIONING COMMANDS: This is also a form of disobedience. This is when a person receives a clear command or instruction from God, someone or authority and still questions it or asks question whether he/she should obey. A clear command or instruction should be obeyed immediately and not to be questioned. Let’s go back to the scripture – we remember the story of Balaam. He was given a clear instruction and command by God but tempted by the promise of fame and riches; he asked God a second time if he should go with the king’s messengers. God was angry with him and sent an angel to kill him though he was mercifully spared, thanks to his donkey.

CONSEQUENSES OF DISOBEDIENCE

Consequences refer to punishment, outcome, effect or result of disobedience. It can also be defined as something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions. These outcomes, effects, results and punishments of disobedience are all enumerated in the scripture.  The book of Deuteronomy chapter 28:15-68. If you look critically at this chapter, you will find out that verses 1 to 14 are blessings of obedience while verses 15 to 68 are consequences of disobedience. This goes a long way to tell us that the consequences of disobeying God, someone or any authority are much and should be avoided.

v  I would ask, what led to the dismissal of Adam and Eve from paradise? It was because of disobedience to God’s command.

v  And like we discussed earlier, Pharaoh and his soldiers were drowned in the red sea because of disobedience. Even Moses didn’t see the Promised Land because of disobedience. Balaam was almost destroyed cause of disobedience.

          Brethren, though the above mentioned criteria were immediate punishments due to disobedience, we must bear in mind that the punishment in the hereafter is more severe, everlasting and intense.

                      

WAYS OF TREATING DISOBEDIENCE

v  REPENT SINCERELY AND SEEK FOR FORGIVENESS FROM GOD: this is the first thing we ought to do when we disobey God. God made us a promise that if we confess our sins that He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from every unrighteousness. 1John 1:9.

v  SUPPORTING THE RIGHT THING: Always support the right thing and make sure you forbid what is wrong because this will help us to obey God and also help us to encourage people to obey God and those in authority.

v  OFFERING GOOD ADVICE: when we offer good advice to people around us and even to ourselves, it tends to make us to obey God, people and those in authority.

In conclusion, we tend to ask: will a loving God punish the disobedient? The book of 2^nd Thessalonians 1:7-9 says that God will punish disobedience at the final judgment and proverbs 15:9 makes us to understand that God hates sin and disobedience is a sin against God. But God has made a way to be free from the penalty of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ because He is just and not mean spirited. He has provided us an escape from the guilt of sin. However, we must be obedient to Him and accept that payment, reconciling ourselves to God. Revelation 22:17.

Author:

Obodo Emmanuela

Economist, Blogger.