What similar warnings are found elsewhere in Scripture about turning away from God? Troubled days in Asa’s time 2 Chronicles 15:5: “In those times no one could travel safely, for great turmoil had come upon all the inhabitants of the lands.” Warnings in the Law (Torah) • Deuteronomy 28:15: “If you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.” • Deuteronomy 28:65-67: “Among those nations you will find no repose… the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and despair of soul… you will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never certain of your life.” Warnings from Israel’s early history • Joshua 24:20: “If you abandon the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.” • Judges 2:14-15 (summary): The LORD’s hand was against Israel for evil when they turned to idols, and they were greatly distressed. Warnings in the Wisdom books • Psalm 81:11-12: “But My people would not listen to Me… so I gave them over to the stubbornness of their hearts, to walk in their own devices.” • Proverbs 1:24-27: “Because you refused to listen… I in turn will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you.” Warnings through the Prophets • Isaiah 1:19-20: “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” • Jeremiah 2:19: “Your own evil will discipline you; your apostasies will rebuke you… how bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God.” • Hosea 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.” • Amos 8:11-12: “Behold, the days are coming… I will send a famine of hearing the words of the LORD… they will run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but will not find it.” Warnings from Jesus • John 15:6: “If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” Warnings in the Epistles • Romans 1:24-28 (summary): God gave them over to the desires of their hearts because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie. • Hebrews 2:1-3: “We must pay closer attention… how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” • Hebrews 3:12: “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” • Hebrews 10:26-27: “If we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment.” • 2 Peter 2:20-21: “If, after they have escaped the defilements of the world… they are again entangled and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.” Warnings in Revelation • Revelation 2:4-5: “You have forsaken your first love… repent and do the things you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” • Revelation 3:16-19: “Because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth… be zealous and repent.” These passages echo 2 Chronicles 15:5, reminding every generation that abandoning God brings unrest, judgment, and loss, while steadfast faithfulness secures His peace and blessing. |
    |