Sunday, March 15, 1998

Deuteronomy 1:19-33 vs.

"You rebelled against the command of the Lord your God."

When was the last time you rebelled?

Let me caution you to think before you put your tongue in gear. I wouldn’t want you to put your shoe in your mouth.

Rebellion is not just limited to large groups of people protesting against something, such as unfair working conditions, unjust laws, or total disregard of human rights.

Rebellion in its simplest form is disobedience.

When you disobey your parents, your are rebelling.

When you exceed the posted speed limit, you are rebelling.

When you complain about increased taxes, exceedingly high car insurance rates, you are rebelling.

This birth of America came about why?, because the colonists rebelled against the King of England.

So, before you say I have never rebelled, think. Have you or did you ever disobey your parents?

Everybody has.

Let me ask you another question. Why did you disobey?

If your reasons, are anything like mine were, you disobeyed because you wanted to do something and your parents said, NO.

It is exactly at this point the battle of wills began.

There is no question in your mind as to whether it is right or wrong to disobey your parents. You know it is wrong to disobey your parents. As a matter of fact, we know obeying your parents is one of the ten commandments,

"Honor your father and mother."

However, your desire to do, whatever it is that you want to do, is so great you are willing to chance disobeying your parents and hope that you are not caught and if you are caught suffer the consequences.

I remember being at the home of friends who, at the time had a 13 year old daughter. She came into the room and asked her father if she could do a certain thing. Her father tried to postpone discussing her request later, but I guess she thought she had a better chance getting Daddy to say yes while he was somewhat distracted with our conversation.

She pursued her request a little further, and when her Dad said, "No.", she went into a typical 13 years old tirade saying, "That’s not fair." "You never let me have any fun." "All my friends are going." You know how it goes.

Well, to make a long story short, the 13 year old gave into her wants and desires, encouraged by her friends urging, and disobeyed her father. She got caught and was grounded for a month.

This story reflects the plight of the Israelites.

"They rebelled against the command of the Lord their God."

Their situation was a little different from the 13 year girl. The Israelite was told by God, to enter into the land of Caanan. When they saw the land of Caanan, they liked what they saw. It was exactly how God told them, "a beautiful land, flowing with milk and honey." But there was one problem. It was already occupied the Caananites, who were a physically larger and stronger people than the Israelites. Also their cities were well fortified.

Inspite of what God told them, that He would give them this land. Nothing God could say, could erase the image of the Caananites from their mind. So when God said, "GO." The Israelites said, "NO."

Instead of obeying they did what they thought was best. Instead of entering the promised land, God grounded them for 40 years, and you thought a month was harsh.

When they asked WHY? The answer they got was,

"You rebelled against the command of the Lord your God."

In the girl’s case, she did something she was told NOT to do.

In the case of the Israelites, they DID NOT do something they were told to do.

What concerns me today, is that the attitude of disobedience, evident in these two stories is becoming very prevalent today.

The message that today’s youth and adults is getting from TV, movies, music, commercials is JUST DO IT. It is exactly this message that challenges God’s laws, the laws of the land, and even the Girl Scout Law. More importantly it challenges our allegiance to living the principles of the laws.

How do you teach a girl scout or any youth, to be honest and fair, when they see leaders of countries, corporations and families being dishonest and unjust?

How do you convince people to be friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, when it is evident there are prejudices and biases against people of certain colors and nationalities, when you’re told to mind you own business, to look out for number 1, because if you don’t look out for yourself, no one else will?

How is it possible to teach people to respect themselves and others, when child pornography is a billion dollar business, when children are abused everyday, when homeless people are viewed as an inconvenience and not a fellow human being?

How are children suppose to respect authority, when the very people you trust to protect you are being the suppresser and oppressor?

Just read today’s paper, if you want to see the presence and effects of rebellion against the law.

We have at our finger tips technology that can change the world, but it is of absolutely no value if we are going to do what the Israelites did.

"They rebelled against the command of the Lord their God."

As long as we rebel against the law of God, the world will be not be a better place to live in. It is only by obedience to the Law of God, that there is hope for tomorrow. The law of God was designed to lead Israel to a life of practical holiness. Through they could see the nature of God and His plan for how they should live. Its command and guidelines were intended to direct the community to meet the needs of each individual in a loving and responsible manner.

The purpose of God’s law has not changed. It still stands as a means to fulfill God’s ultimate law of love.

Do you believe it?

More importantly, are you willing to live it?

The Girl Scout Law, like the Boy Scout Law, reflects in practical ways the Law of God.

It is not enough to stand up and recite it, just like it is not enough to stand up in church and recite a creed.

You must obey it, not because you think, by obeying it I will earn badges or God’s protection. Not because you think its a means to prosperity in both this world and the next.

Obey it because, you Love and Trust God.

That was the stumbling block of the Israelites.

They wanted to enter the promise land, yet as the Bible tells us,

"You rebelled against the command of the Lord your God,"

Why?

Deuteronomy 1:32 gives you the answer,

"You have no trust in the Lord your God."

Is this the cause of our disobedience, lack of trust, a lack of love?

Then let us learn from the mistakes of the past, and give heed to Proverb 3:5

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insights. In all of your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your paths."

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