The concept of disobedience is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often highlighting the consequences of failing to adhere to God's commands. Disobedience is portrayed as a fundamental aspect of human nature that leads to separation from God, moral decay, and divine judgment.

Old Testament Instances

1. Adam and Eve: The first act of disobedience in the Bible occurs in Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, defying God's explicit command. This act of disobedience introduces sin into the world and results in their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:17 states, "To Adam He said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.'"

2. Cain: In Genesis 4, Cain disobeys God's warning and murders his brother Abel. This act of disobedience leads to Cain's curse and exile. Genesis 4:11 records, "Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand."

3. Israelites in the Wilderness: The Israelites frequently disobeyed God during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Notably, in Numbers 14, their refusal to enter Canaan as commanded by God results in a 40-year period of wandering in the wilderness. Numbers 14:22-23 states, "not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times—not one will ever see the land that I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have treated Me with contempt will see it."

4. King Saul: In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul disobeys God's command to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions. As a result, God rejects Saul as king. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 highlights, "But Samuel declared: 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.'"

New Testament Instances

1. The Rich Young Ruler: In Matthew 19, a young man approaches Jesus, asking how to obtain eternal life. Jesus instructs him to sell his possessions and follow Him, but the young man disobeys, choosing his wealth over discipleship. Matthew 19:22 notes, "When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth."

2. Ananias and Sapphira: In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira disobey the Holy Spirit by lying about the proceeds from the sale of their property. Their disobedience results in immediate divine judgment. Acts 5:3-5 records, "Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!' On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened."

Theological Implications

Disobedience in the Bible is often linked to a lack of faith and trust in God. It is seen as a rejection of God's authority and wisdom, leading to spiritual and sometimes physical consequences. The Bible consistently calls for repentance and obedience as a means to restore the broken relationship between humanity and God. Romans 5:19 contrasts the disobedience of Adam with the obedience of Christ: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."

Conclusion

The theme of disobedience serves as a cautionary tale throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's actions with God's will. The Bible presents obedience as a pathway to blessing and disobedience as a route to judgment, underscoring the need for faithfulness in the believer's life.(imp. & p. p.) of Disobey.4784. marah -- to be contentious or rebellious
... root Definition to be contentious or rebellious NASB Word Usage became disobedient
(1), bitter (1), disobedient (1), disobeyed (2), provocation (1), rebel (6 ...
/hebrew/4784.htm - 6k

Fourth Charge, of Having Disobeyed an Imperial Order.
... Chapter II. 19. Fourth charge, of having disobeyed an Imperial order. And now,
if it please you, let us consider the remaining accusation ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/19 fourth charge of having.htm

The Reign of Saul.
... Saul attempted to be like others-to assert his own will-and disobeyed God and was
deposed while David identified himself with God and his purposes and was ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter x the reign of.htm

1 Cor. xi. 2
... Since then he had already admonished them concerning these things when present,
and some perhaps listened to him and others disobeyed; therefore in his letter ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxvi 1 cor xi.htm

For the Sake of a Nation.
... Just like God! They were cared for, though He had been disobeyed and dishonoured. ...
Something must be done for the people's sake. Moses disobeyed God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/for the sake of a.htm

The First and Great Commandment
... Other commands of a ceremonial kind, when disobeyed, may involve but slight
consequences upon the person who may happen to offend, but this disobeyed provokes ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the first and great commandment.htm

Whether Adam in the State of Innocence had Mastership Over the ...
... him. Therefore in the state of innocence, before man had disobeyed, nothing
disobeyed him that was naturally subject to him. Now ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether adam in the state 2.htm

The Constitution of the World and the Disposition of The
... an envious disposition, at his supposal of their living happily, and in obedience
to the commands of God; and imagining, that when they disobeyed them, they ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 the constitution of.htm

The Story of David, the Shepherd Boy
... as the Lord said. It was not long before Samuel told him that he had
disobeyed God and would lose his kingdom. When Samuel told ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of david the.htm

A Synopsis of Some Apostolic Words from the Same Discourse.
... given to me, this was for life and incorruption, so that obeying it I might have
ever-blooming life and joy unto incorruption; but to him who disobeyed it, it ...
/.../methodius/from the discourse on the resurrection/ii a synopsis of some.htm

The Displeasure of Jesus.
... roused in him an unseemly delight in his own cleanness"unseemly, for it was such
that he paid no heed to the Lord, but immediately disobeyed his positive ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the displeasure of jesus.htm

Disobeyed (11 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Disobey. Multi-Version Concordance Disobeyed (11 Occurrences). ... For
they would not walk in his ways, and they disobeyed his law. (WEB). ...
/d/disobeyed.htm - 10k

Nicanor (1 Occurrence)
... the Syrians were defeated at Emmaus (1 Maccabees 3:57;), while Gorgias at a later
stage gained a victory at Jamnia over a body of Jews who disobeyed Judas (1 ...
/n/nicanor.htm - 14k

Disobey (15 Occurrences)

/d/disobey.htm - 11k

Nicolaitans (2 Occurrences)
... The Nicolaitans disobeyed the command issued to the Gentilechurches, by the apostolic
council held at Jerusalem in 49-50 AD, that they should refrain from the ...
/n/nicolaitans.htm - 10k

Neglected (10 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:29 But he answered his father,'Behold, these many years I have served you,
and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat ...
/n/neglected.htm - 9k

Tree (245 Occurrences)
... But they disobeyed the divine injunction, and so sin and death by sin entered our
world and became the heritage of Adam's posterity. (see ADAM.). ...
/t/tree.htm - 75k

Enjoy (68 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:29 "'All these years,' replied the son, 'I have been slaving for you, and
I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never ...
/e/enjoy.htm - 26k

Disobeying (2 Occurrences)

/d/disobeying.htm - 7k

Myself (395 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:29 "'All these years,' replied the son, 'I have been slaving for you, and
I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never ...
/m/myself.htm - 37k

Celebrate (66 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:29 But he answered his father,'Behold, these many years I have served you,
and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat ...
/c/celebrate.htm - 27k

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Disobeyed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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