What other scriptures emphasize the seriousness of following God's instructions? \Setting the Scene: 1 Kings 20:36\ “Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” And when the man left, a lion found him and killed him.” Disobedience brought swift, irreversible judgment. Scripture repeats this theme again and again. \Echoes of Judgment in the Old Testament\ • Genesis 2:16–17 – “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you must not eat… for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” • Genesis 19:26 – Lot’s wife “looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” • Leviticus 10:1–2 – Nadab and Abihu “offered unauthorized fire before the LORD… so fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them.” • Numbers 15:32–36 – A man gathering sticks on the Sabbath is stoned at God’s command. • Deuteronomy 28:15 – “If you do not obey the LORD your God… all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.” • Joshua 7:1–26 – Achan’s hidden sin leads to Israel’s defeat and his own death. • 1 Samuel 15:22–23 – “To obey is better than sacrifice… rebellion is like the sin of divination.” Saul loses the kingdom for partial obedience. • 2 Samuel 6:6–7 – Uzzah touches the ark; “the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down.” • 2 Chronicles 26:16–21 – King Uzziah intrudes into the temple; he is smitten with leprosy. • Jonah 1:1–4 – Jonah flees God’s call; a storm threatens all on board. \New Testament Warnings and Calls to Obedience\ • Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father.” • Luke 6:46 – “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?” • John 14:15 – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • Acts 5:1–11 – Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit; both fall dead. • Hebrews 2:1–3 – “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” • Hebrews 10:26–27 – Willful sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth brings “a fearful expectation of judgment.” • James 1:22 – “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” • 1 John 2:3–4 – “We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commandments.” • Revelation 2:5 – “Remember… repent and do the works you did at first.” • Revelation 22:18–19 – Adding to or taking away from the prophecy invites eternal loss. \Patterns to Notice\ • Immediate consequences (Nadab, Uzzah, Ananias) underscore God’s holiness. • Delayed but certain consequences (Saul, Uzziah) show that patience is not permission. • Corporate impact (Achan, Jonah) reminds us that disobedience never stays private. • Blessings and protection consistently flow to those who heed God’s voice (Noah in Genesis 6:22; Joshua in Joshua 1:7–8). \Why Obedience Still Matters\ The same God who judged in 1 Kings 20:36 still calls His people to walk in wholehearted obedience. The cross secures forgiveness, yet Scripture never relaxes the command to “be holy” (1 Peter 1:15–16). Taking His instructions seriously honors His character, safeguards us from avoidable harm, and displays authentic faith to a watching world. |
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