Rebellious Bouncer
But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king.
1 Samuel 12:15
“Watch out for the little guy!”
The instructions were clearly spoken to the eight year old girl bouncing out of control in the “Moon Bounce” at our church’s Fall Festival for the community. The only reason I was hanging around to hear it was that the “little guy” was my two year old grandson. They were the only two bouncing so it was clear to the girl that the words were meant for her.
Upon hearing the instruction she turned to my grandson, slapped him on the back, and kept bouncing away. I was horrified, disgusted with such defiant behavior. The good news was the he laughed, unhurt and unmoved, so I, and the adult in charge, both backed down.
As I was telling my husband about it I said, “What would make a child so deliberately disobey the man in charge? “Disrespect for authority,” was his response. How does an eight year old get to the point that they will not listen to an authority figure, especially one who could pull her out of a fun thing like a moon bounce? I am still surprised.
It only took a minute before I saw a clear connection between myself and that girl. I would not even want to count the number of times in my life that I have known that there was something God, as the Authority in my life, has wanted me to do, or not to do, and I have rebelled against His instructions. I am far less horrified when I am the rebellious one.
Over the years, one of the things I have learned is that God does not tolerate rebellion, not this little girl’s, not mine, and not the rebellion of a nation. In America we seem to be proud of rebellion. It proves independence and self-sufficiency, which we value. After this incident at the Moon Bounce, I realize God is as unhappy with my rebellion as I was at hers. Rebellion is sin.
“But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’” Jeremiah 5:23 How often do we fail to fear God? How often have we rebelled against Him even though He is the One who supplies our basic needs?
I love the verse from Isaiah 65 that talks about how God extended His mercy to Israel over and over but they refused Him. Isaiah 65:2-3a say this, “I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; a people who provoke me to my face continually.” Isaiah 65:2-3a. God tolerated this rebellion for a long time before passing judgment and sending Israel into exile.
When God gives instructions (also known as commands), we choose to either obey or disobey. Like this little girl we can defy the command. God may allow us to get away with it for a while as He tries to get our attention. But, ultimately, if we refuse to listen and turn from our rebellious attitudes and actions – God will judge – just as Israel experienced in exile in Babylon.
We all like to say that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Here is what He promised Israel when they were first leaving Egypt to go the Promised land. “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known. 11:26-28.
The rest of the evening went pretty smoothly in the Moon Bounce but the eyes of that adult in charge were on that little girl every time she came in to bounce around. In the same way, God is watching us, watching for when we will obey His instructions so He can bless us. Will we offer Him that opportunity, or will we turn from Him and hit the first little guy we see?