As parents we have all had an experience of deliberate disobedience. The time when the child hears exactly what you are saying and responds with a "no." As a parent, your only choice then is to punish.
Yesterday in my women's Bible study this point was brought up. The book we are reading, "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver, pointed out that when we are deliberately disobedient to God, He can and does choose to punish us. This was a very difficult concept for many of the women to understand, and some did not want to accept it at all.
One of the women shared when she was sick, and in a wheel chair, she was approached by a sister in Christ to search her heart for what sin was causing her illness. This example saddens me. There are those Christians who believe all difficulties and illnesses in life are the result of a sin and that simply is not true. It is those examples that cause others to devalue or not believe that God will discipline.
So I have been thinking about this, and talking with my husband, and I just wanted to show some of the Biblical examples of God disciplining for disobedience and deliberate sin.
The first one that came to my mind was David. In 2 Samuel 11 the first sin that David commented was using his power to summon Bathsheba and sleep with her. When Bathsheba notified David she was pregnant, David arranges for her husband, Uriah, to come back from the battle lines so that David might convince Uriah to spend some time with his wife. When Uriah claimed his loyalty and place were currently with the men fighting, and refused to see Bathsheba for two days, David sent a letter back with Uriah. The letter was given to Joab, the commander of the army, and it ordered Joab to put Uriah in the front of the battle and then to withdraw from him so that he may be struck down and die. After Bathsheba mouned her husband's death, David took her as his wife.
There is something different here then just the sin. We all fall short of the glory of God. We all sin. But King David used his power to deliberately try to cover up this sin. In 2 Samuel 12: 9-10 the sins that the prophet Nathan talks about is not David's human nature failing of adultery, but David's deliberate sins of killing Uriah and taking his wife. 2 Samuel 12:11-12 talks about David's first punishment and 2 Samuel 12:14 talks about David's second punishment.
A second occurrence of punishment for deliberate sin occurs at the beginning of Acts 5. Right at the end of Acts 4 it talks about a man, Joseph, who sold a large tract of land and brought the money to the apostles' feet. This was a sharing of wealth that was happening by all the believers. So Acts 5 opens with Ananias and Sapphira selling a piece of property, but keeping back some of the money for themselves. When Ananias placed the money at Peter's feet, his intention must have been deliberate, to appear this was a huge sacrifice. The Holy Spirit does not allow for this deliberate deceit to happen. Peter tells Ananias that he has not lied to men, but to God. Ananias was immediately struck dead. When Sapphira comes in, not knowing what has happened, Peter asks her if the land was sold for such and such price. Even though Sapphira knew of the money kept back, she lies and says that was the amount it was sold for. Peter tells her that she has put the Spirit of the Lord to the test and she also falls dead.
Again, it is not just a sin. There is deliberate intention to deceive. Maybe it was put on Ananias' and Sapphira's hearts to sell their property and give the money to the apostles, and they were not fully obedient. Another possibility is it could have been their desire to be like others and have the acceptenance and praise of man. Whatever the course of their decisions, we know there was intentional deception. In human nature they wanted to keep some of that money. Perhaps if Ananias had said, "I sold some property and I am giving a portion of the money to you" that God's punishment would not have been as strong. It was the deliberate intent of appearing to be more giving than they really were that caused their downfall.
Now for a personal example. I had not remembered this on my own, but was reminded last night through discussion with my husband.
In spring of 2009 I had almost no clothes that were fitting. I had finally lost all of my weight from my 2006 baby plus some, but I had not purchased any smaller sizes. I asked the women at my Bible study if anyone had any things they could pass on, and a couple of women generously responded. I was over whelmed by the new wardrobe I received. Most of the clothes were quality brands and many of the items looked brand new.
One of the women brought clothes that her two grown daughters were done with. In that box were several nearly duplicate items because one piece came from each daughter. I was immediately prompted that I should not keep all of these things for myself. It was really difficult because I never had such quality clothes, but I knew in my heart someone was going to love the opportunity to receive such beautiful things just as much as I did. I went through all of the similar clothes and chose the one I liked best of each one. The hardest items to choose between were two similar North Face jackets and then two amazingly beautiful winter coats by Skea. I did choose only one of the North Face jackets but really struggled between the two Skea coats. They were the same style, but one was black and the other was tan. I had never owned a coat of high quality such as these, and really, I could use both because they would coordinate with different outfits. I donated the box holding back both Skea coats.
As the months passed on God continued to prompt my heart to give up one of the Skea coats. By now I had decided I liked the black one better, but the tan one was still really nice just in case I ever got some boots that matched.
Then came one of those odd spring days in 2010 where the morning was chilly but it was fabulously warm and sunny by afternoon. I threw my black Skea coat in the car because I had worn it that morning, but after attending church and teaching during the second service, there was no longer a need for it. I was just going to make a quick stop at the neighboring grocery store and then head home. As I got out of my car to head into the store God prompted me again. A couple of parking spots away were two women. Loud and clear God prompted me to give the coat to one of them. I wanted too, I really did. I had made the choice to give up one of each of the nearly duplicate items. This had not been commanded of me, but I gladly told God I would and here I was holding back. I responded to God in my heart, "not my favorite one, not the black one... I would if I had the tan one on me today." I even told God I would give up the tan coat as soon as I got home. But bargaining does not work. The prompting came again, "not the tan one, but the black one, here and now." I almost reached for it, but then like a stubborn child I said no. I had been given these two coats and it had been a blessing to me. I suddenly felt entitled. I turned and headed into the store.
When I got home I pulled out the groceries and grabbed my black coat from the back seat. Of course I was carrying everything in at once and I did not notice one of the coat sleeves dragging behind. On my way into the house my coat sleeve caught the bottom of the screen door and ripped. My heart was crushed. I immediately knew this was my punishment for disobeying God's prompting. I had been selfish when I had promised God I would share.
The next day I gave my tan coat to another mom at my son's school. She had moved up from the south and did not have a really nice winter coat. Actually she had spent the whole winter without a good winter coat and she had been on my heart for some time but I had been stubbornly ignoring givnig her this gift.
I still have that black coat and still wear it. The rip on the sleeve was supposed to be my reminder to remember my promises to God. Funny how I did not even remember this story yesterday, that my husband had to remind me. I guess I need to look at that coat sleeve a little more often.
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to choose your way even when it is difficult. Help me to not be the stubborn child wanting to do things my way. Love, your baby girl
