Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Refusing to Hearken to Him
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Rebellion against God is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often characterized by a refusal to listen to or obey His commands. This defiance is not merely an act of disobedience but a deeper rejection of God's authority and wisdom. The Scriptures provide numerous examples and warnings about the consequences of such rebellion.

Old Testament Examples

1. Adam and Eve: The first act of rebellion is found in Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve choose to listen to the serpent rather than God. Despite God's clear command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they succumb to temptation, leading to the fall of man. This act of rebellion set the stage for humanity's ongoing struggle with sin and disobedience.

2. Israel in the Wilderness: The Israelites frequently exhibited rebellion during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. In Exodus 32, they create and worship a golden calf, directly violating God's commandment against idolatry. Despite witnessing God's miracles, they repeatedly refuse to hearken to His voice, leading to severe consequences, including wandering in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers 14:22-23).

3. King Saul: Saul, the first king of Israel, provides a poignant example of rebellion through his refusal to fully obey God's instructions. In 1 Samuel 15, Saul spares King Agag and the best of the Amalekite livestock, contrary to God's command to destroy everything. Samuel rebukes Saul, saying, "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king" (1 Samuel 15:23).

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently addressed the issue of rebellion, calling the people of Israel and Judah to repentance. Jeremiah laments the people's stubbornness, saying, "But they did not listen or incline their ear; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward" (Jeremiah 7:24). Similarly, Ezekiel is told by God that the house of Israel is "a rebellious house" (Ezekiel 12:2), highlighting their persistent refusal to heed divine warnings.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, Jesus often confronts the religious leaders for their hard-heartedness and unwillingness to listen to God's message. In Matthew 23, He pronounces woes upon the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy and failure to recognize God's truth. Jesus' parable of the tenants (Matthew 21:33-46) illustrates the ultimate rebellion against God, culminating in the rejection and crucifixion of His Son.

The apostle Paul also addresses rebellion in his epistles, warning believers against hardening their hearts. In Romans 1:21-25, he describes how humanity's refusal to acknowledge God leads to futile thinking and idolatry. Paul exhorts the church to remain obedient and faithful, emphasizing that rebellion leads to spiritual death.

Consequences of Rebellion

The Bible consistently portrays rebellion against God as leading to judgment and separation from Him. In Deuteronomy 28, Moses outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience, underscoring the serious consequences of turning away from God. The ultimate consequence of rebellion is spiritual death, as stated in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" .

Call to Obedience

Despite humanity's tendency to rebel, the Bible offers hope through repentance and obedience. God continually calls His people to return to Him, promising forgiveness and restoration. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God declares, "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land" . This call to obedience is a central theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's desire for a relationship with His creation based on love and faithfulness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Deuteronomy 9:23
Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadeshbarnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then you rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and you believed him not, nor listened to his voice.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 20:8
But they rebelled against me, and would not listen to me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Zechariah 7:11
But they refused to listen, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Covenanting a Duty.
... It reproves the rebellion of those who would worship the creature instead of the
Creator ... Were the matter of the Covenant against the law of God, it would ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iii covenanting a duty.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... absolutely compelled to do so by rebellion at home ... like blind men, because they have
sinned against Jahveh: and ... him, he cried out in amazement, "Ah, Lord God! ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.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

The Pilgrim's Progress
... I what it is to mourn for my refusing of the ... Further, they could call the bread of
God husks; the comforts of ... and be a sign To all that shall against the truth ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm

Resources
Who was Judas Maccabeus? | GotQuestions.org

Was the American Revolution a violation of Romans 13:1-7? | GotQuestions.org

Why is obedience better than sacrifice? | GotQuestions.org

Rebellion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Rebellion

Rebellion Against God: Connected With: Contempt of God

Rebellion Against God: Connected With: Injustice and Corruption

Rebellion Against God: Connected With: Man is Prone To

Rebellion Against God: Connected With: Stubbornness

Rebellion Against God: Connected With: The Heart is the Seat of

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Departing from Him

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Departing from his Instituted Worship

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Departing from his Precepts

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Despising his Counsels

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Despising his Law

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Distrusting his Power

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Murmuring Against Him

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Rebellion Against Governors Appointed by Him

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Refusing to Hearken to Him

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Rejecting his Government

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Revolting from Him

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Sinning Against Light

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Unbelief

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Walking After Our own Thoughts

Rebellion Against God: Forbidden

Rebellion Against God: Forgiven Upon Repentance

Rebellion Against God: God Alone Can Forgive

Rebellion Against God: God is Ready to Forgive

Rebellion Against God: Guilt of Aggravated by God's Fatherly Care

Rebellion Against God: Guilt of Aggravated by God's Unceasing Invitations to Return to Him

Rebellion Against God: Guilt of To be Confessed

Rebellion Against God: Guilt of To be Deprecated

Rebellion Against God: Heinousness of

Rebellion Against God: Ingratitude of-Illustrated

Rebellion Against God: Israelites

Rebellion Against God: Jeroboam

Rebellion Against God: Kingdom of Israel

Rebellion Against God: Korah

Rebellion Against God: Ministers: Cautioned Against

Rebellion Against God: Ministers: Sent to Those Guilty of

Rebellion Against God: Ministers: should Remind Their People of Past

Rebellion Against God: Ministers: should Testify Against

Rebellion Against God: Ministers: should Warn Against

Rebellion Against God: Moses and Aaron

Rebellion Against God: Pharaoh

Rebellion Against God: Promises to Those Who Avoid

Rebellion Against God: Provokes Christ

Rebellion Against God: Provokes God

Rebellion Against God: Punishment For

Rebellion Against God: Punishment for Teaching

Rebellion Against God: Religious Instruction Designed to Prevent

Rebellion Against God: Saul

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Aggravate Their Sin By

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Brought Low For

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Cast out in Their Sins For

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Cast out of the Church For

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Delivered Into the Hands of Enemies on Account of

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Denounced

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Have God As Their Enemy

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Have God's Hand Against Them

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Impoverished For

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Increase In, Though Chastised

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Persevere In

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Practise Hypocrisy to Hide

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Restored Through Christ Alone

Rebellion Against God: They Who are Guilty of Warned not to Exalt Themselves

Rebellion Against God: Vexes the Holy Spirit

Rebellion Against God: Zedekiah

Rebellion: Absalom

Rebellion: Revolt of the Ten Tribes

Rebellion: Sheba

Rebellion: Treasonable

Related Terms

Transgression (70 Occurrences)

Merathaim (1 Occurrence)

Perversion (13 Occurrences)

Artaxerxes (14 Occurrences)

Ahithophel (17 Occurrences)

Rebel (35 Occurrences)

Rebellious (63 Occurrences)

Gaal (10 Occurrences)

Wondrous (41 Occurrences)

Ittai (9 Occurrences)

Revolt (18 Occurrences)

Mesha (4 Occurrences)

Mahanaim (15 Occurrences)

Mered (2 Occurrences)

Counseled (12 Occurrences)

Cambyses

Asnapper (1 Occurrence)

Sedition (8 Occurrences)

Stubbornness (14 Occurrences)

Mephibosheth (13 Occurrences)

Flavius

Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)

Josephus

Korah (51 Occurrences)

Stubborn (40 Occurrences)

Numbers (136 Occurrences)

Shimei (43 Occurrences)

Neck (97 Occurrences)

Preached (75 Occurrences)

Gibeon (39 Occurrences)

Idolatry (14 Occurrences)

Persians (6 Occurrences)

Demetrius (3 Occurrences)

Jonathan (109 Occurrences)

Aaron (343 Occurrences)

Polygamy

Rod (138 Occurrences)

Jerusalem (782 Occurrences)

Bondage (55 Occurrences)

Shemaiah (40 Occurrences)

Harden (22 Occurrences)

Canaan (102 Occurrences)

Canaanites (63 Occurrences)

David (1052 Occurrences)

Zadok (50 Occurrences)

Zechariah (55 Occurrences)

Korah's (4 Occurrences)

Necks (28 Occurrences)

Nourish (16 Occurrences)

Unruly (8 Occurrences)

Unfaithful (58 Occurrences)

Undisciplined (3 Occurrences)

Olves

Juda (11 Occurrences)

Long-suffering (23 Occurrences)

Loving-kindness (150 Occurrences)

Grumbling (13 Occurrences)

Grumblings (6 Occurrences)

Walks (51 Occurrences)

Withdraw (52 Occurrences)

Wink (2 Occurrences)

Idleness (4 Occurrences)

Israel (27466 Occurrences)

Insurrection (8 Occurrences)

Insubordination (1 Occurrence)

Issued (40 Occurrences)

Forgiving (11 Occurrences)

Forsookest (2 Occurrences)

Theudas (1 Occurrence)

Treachery (18 Occurrences)

Taskmaster (3 Occurrences)

Tirzah (17 Occurrences)

Teraphim (14 Occurrences)

Thwart (5 Occurrences)

Rebelling (4 Occurrences)

Rushed (24 Occurrences)

Riotously (2 Occurrences)

Esarhaddon (3 Occurrences)

Egyptian (35 Occurrences)

Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Rebellion Against Governors Appointed by Him
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