This is something the Israelites had a problem with at times. They relied on other nations to save them instead of God. Because of their sin God would hide His face from His people and would not hear their prayers.
It says in Isaiah 1:15, “When you spread out your hands in prayer I will hide my eyes from you even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood.” In Isaiah 59:2 it says somewhat the same thing, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear.” God is so holy that He will not look at sin and when the Israelites sinned, it automatically separated them from their God and the same thing happens today when we sin.
God will not tolerate sin and He chastises (punishes) those that do it because He is a just God, not a tyrant, and because He loves you and wants you to repent and learn from what you’ve done so that you will not repeat it. No one likes to be punished but we should rejoice in it because it shows God’s love for us. God doesn’t want us to be spoiled children. Proverbs 13:24 says, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” Verse 18 says, “He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.”
The problem wasn’t the discipline, the problem was their response when they were being disciplined. God’s people would depend on other nations to save or deliver them and they would also consult fortunetellers and mediums for the answers to their dilemmas. What kind of wisdom can you expect from the dead? This was also a sin so all they were doing was adding sin upon sin instead of depending and relying on the Holy One of Israel who was their God.
When they didn’t rely on God but took things into their own hands that was called the sin of pride. Pride says, “I don’t need God I can depend on myself.” I have heard it said by Pastor Bill Kirk that, “Pride stinks and the only one that doesn’t smell it is the person that has it,” or something close to that.
My question to you is who are you depending on? Many people depend on themselves and walk in pride and arrogance. Some will make fun of God’s people saying that they need a crutch because they are weak and can’t stand on their own two feet or something close to that, not realizing their own weaknesses and poverty. God’s Word says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” In James 4:8-10 it says this, “Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time, make your thinking pure. Be sad, cry, and weep! Change your laughter into crying and your joy into sadness. Humble yourself in the Lord's presence, and He will honor you.”
These verses speak for themselves and can be applied to the non-believer or to those that are in the church that haven’t totally committed themselves to the Lord. Being proud and depending or relying on someone or something besides the Lord for deliverance, protection or guidance is futile, you might as well spit in the wind. So if this is your problem, humble yourself before the Lord and repent, it will be the best decision you can make. God bless you and have a great day!!
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