What does "I was not rebellious" teach about submission to God's authority? Setting the Scene Isaiah 50:5 — “The Lord GOD has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn back.” The Meaning of “I was not rebellious” • “Opened My ear” pictures the servant’s willing attentiveness; nothing blocks the voice of God. • “I was not rebellious” expresses an active, deliberate choice to align with God’s command without resistance. • “Nor did I turn back” underscores perseverance; true submission endures even when obedience is costly. Submission Illustrated in the Servant • The verse prophetically portrays Christ, who fully obeyed the Father: – John 8:29 — “I always do what pleases Him.” – Philippians 2:8 — “He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—yes, death on a cross.” • His flawless submission validates the call for believers to yield to God’s authority. Personal Implications for Us • God still “opens our ear” through Scripture and the Spirit; we mirror the servant by refusing rebellion. • Obedience is not grudging compliance but joyful loyalty to the One who has spoken. • 1 Samuel 15:22 reminds us that “to obey is better than sacrifice.” God values yielded hearts above outward rituals. Practical Steps Toward Glad Submission 1. Receive the Word daily. Let Him “open your ear” through regular, unhurried Bible intake (Psalm 119:11). 2. Respond immediately. Delay breeds rebellion; prompt obedience honors His sovereignty (James 1:22). 3. Rely on grace. The Spirit empowers what God commands (Hebrews 13:20-21). 4. Remain steadfast under pressure. Like the servant, do not “turn back” when obedience invites hardship (James 1:12). 5. Resist competing authorities. Submit “to God, but resist the devil” (James 4:7); allegiance cannot be divided. Key Takeaways • Submission begins with a heart made attentive by God. • Refusing rebellion means full, enduring compliance with His revealed will. • Christ’s perfect obedience is both model and motivation. • True discipleship is marked by ears opened, wills surrendered, and lives that do not turn back. |
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