What modern examples show the importance of heeding God's warnings and instructions? The Setting: A Prophecy Fulfilled in Tragic Detail “In Ahab’s time, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundations, and at the cost of Segub his youngest he set up its gates, according to the word of the LORD spoken through Joshua son of Nun.” Joshua had warned, “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; at the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates” (Joshua 6:26). Hiel treated that warning as a relic of the past—and paid for the project with two sons. The lesson is timeless: God’s word does not expire. The Pattern We Still See Today • God gives a clear command or warning. • Time passes; culture shifts; people assume the warning no longer applies. • Someone acts in open disregard. • Consequences—often severe—follow exactly as God said (Galatians 6:7). Modern Echoes: Where God’s Warnings Are Still Verified Personal Life • Sexual purity ignored: soaring STI rates, fractured families, addiction to pornography (1 Thessalonians 4:3-6; Proverbs 5:3-11; 1 Corinthians 6:18). • Substance abuse: opioid crises, drunk-driving fatalities, shortened lifespans (Proverbs 23:29-35; Ephesians 5:18). • Financial recklessness: mounting consumer debt, payday-loan cycles, the 2008 mortgage collapse—all predicted by Proverbs 22:7, “the borrower is slave to the lender.” Family • Redefining marriage and abandoning covenant vows: escalating divorce, fatherlessness, and generational trauma (Matthew 19:4-6; Malachi 2:15-16). • Disregarding parental instruction: youth violence, academic failure, addiction (Proverbs 1:8-19; Ephesians 6:1-3). Church • Leaders who ignore moral qualifications (1 Timothy 3): headline scandals, shattered congregations, unbelief spreading (Romans 2:24). • Neglect of biblical discipline: unrepentant sin normalized, loss of witness (1 Corinthians 5:6-13). Society • Ignoring truthfulness: corporate fraud, data breaches, market collapses (Proverbs 10:9; Luke 8:17). • Rejecting rest and Sabbath principles: burnout epidemics, anxiety, depression (Exodus 20:8-11; Mark 2:27). • Disregarding creation stewardship: polluted water sources, climate-related crop failures, health crises (Genesis 2:15; Numbers 35:33-34). Why These Examples Matter • They prove God’s warnings remain active, just as Jericho’s curse did. • They show His instructions cover every sphere—personal, family, church, and civic life. • They remind us that delayed judgment is not canceled judgment (2 Peter 3:9-10). • They invite repentance while mercy is still offered (Isaiah 55:6-7). Taking God’s Warnings to Heart Today 1. Revisit His commands—read, meditate, and memorize (Psalm 119:11). 2. Compare current choices with Scripture rather than cultural trends (Romans 12:2). 3. Act immediately on convictions; delayed obedience breeds disobedience (James 1:22-25). 4. Surround yourself with believers who will speak truth in love (Hebrews 3:13). 5. Trust that keeping His word brings blessing and protection (Psalm 19:7-11; Matthew 7:24-25). |
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