Rebellion against God is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often characterized by humanity's departure from His commandments and covenant. This departure signifies a willful disobedience and rejection of God's authority, leading to spiritual and sometimes physical consequences.

Old Testament Examples

1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3): The first act of rebellion is seen in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobey God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This act of defiance resulted in the fall of man, introducing sin and death into the world. Genesis 3:6 states, "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."

2. The Israelites in the Wilderness (Exodus 32): While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law, the Israelites grew impatient and created a golden calf to worship. This act of idolatry was a direct rebellion against God, who had just delivered them from Egypt. Exodus 32:8 records God's words to Moses: "They have quickly turned aside from the way I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’"

3. Korah's Rebellion (Numbers 16): Korah, along with Dathan, Abiram, and others, challenged the leadership of Moses and Aaron, questioning their authority as appointed by God. This rebellion was not just against human leaders but against God's chosen order. Numbers 16:11 states, "Therefore it is you and all your followers who have conspired against the LORD! And who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?"

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently warned Israel and Judah about the consequences of departing from God. Their messages often highlighted the people's rebellion and called them to repentance.

1. Isaiah's Call to Repentance (Isaiah 1): The prophet Isaiah opens his book with a lament over the rebellious nature of the nation. Isaiah 1:2 declares, "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: 'I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.'"

2. Jeremiah's Lament (Jeremiah 2): Jeremiah speaks of Israel's unfaithfulness, likening it to a bride who has forgotten her vows. Jeremiah 2:13 says, "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

New Testament Insights

The New Testament continues to address rebellion against God, emphasizing the spiritual departure from His truth and the rejection of Christ.

1. The Pharisees and Religious Leaders (Matthew 23): Jesus rebukes the religious leaders of His time for their hypocrisy and failure to recognize Him as the Messiah. Their rebellion is seen in their legalism and rejection of God's Son. Matthew 23:37 reflects Jesus' lament: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!"

2. The Apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2): Paul warns of a future rebellion, a falling away from the faith, which will precede the return of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 states, "Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed."

Consequences of Rebellion

Rebellion against God leads to separation from Him, spiritual death, and often divine judgment. The Bible consistently portrays rebellion as a grave sin with serious repercussions, urging believers to remain faithful and obedient to God's Word.Isaiah 59:13
In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Christ of the Gospels. By Rev. Professor Schaff.
... of a later date, have headed a rebellion against the hated ... but if, by the grace of
God, I could ... even from his infancy, in revolt against parental authority ...
/.../the christ of the gospels.htm

The Exhortation of the Last HomilyIs Continued in This. ...
... After this, when the rebellion was actually perpetrated, and ... the whole creation will
rise up against him with the ... for remaining in the city that God is angry ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily v the exhortation of.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... would be no desertion of conjugal fidelity or rebellion against her husband's ... and
that he showed his hope in God by entrusting to Him the chastity ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

Period iv. The Age of the Consolidation of the Church: 200 to 324 ...
... its probation; that it may not be exhibited in the ... of danger, may, by itself, in
pronouncing against the sinner stand in place of God's indignation, and ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iv the age of.htm

Period iii. The Dissolution of the Imperial State Church and the ...
... These things, therefore, we decree against the abominable ... King Chlodowech at length
with God's aid won ... Albi, Rhodez, and Arverne, and departing he subjugated ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iii the dissolution of.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... sustenance." But the most pious penetration is exhibited in the ... it is, if not point
blank against, yet without ... the word, not by doing what God commands, and ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... iron and a hard heart, and exhibited at Eye ... an abortive attempt to raise a rebellion
in his ... which, whole floods of blasphemies, both against God, Christ, and ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... want a pair of shoes, they go and tell him; if they want bread, they go and tell
him; so should ... ask it of God. Do you want strength against Satan's temptations ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

Robert Nelson, his Friends, and Church Principles.
... owed the change of their lives, under God, to his ... to that of apostacy, were directed
against the 'compliant ... it had committed the sin of rebellion in forsaking ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter ii robert nelson his.htm

What does the Bible say about rebellion? | GotQuestions.org

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Rebellion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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