Consequences Of Forsaking The Lord

Evils come upon everyone. Some believe it is a part of life. Leaders speak of these evil behaviors as nothing to be alarmed over. Murders and other vicious crimes happen daily. Many more occur at different times compared to others; perhaps more are occurring here recently. 2 Timothy 3:13. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Why does evil happen? Why do the righteous suffer? I use the term ‘righteous’ loosely. As human believers in God we compare ourselves against non-believers. However, consequences of evil affect a whole society. The righteous feel they should not be persecuted; God shall protect us. Look at the verse before the one stating evils shall wax worse and worse. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Jesus suffered persecution and therefore we as believers shall suffer for the name of Christ.

But, do we bring evils upon ourselves? Are we the cause of evils and persecutions in our society?

Turn with me to Deuteronomy 31:14-18. Before we begin to look at the consequences of forsaking the Lord, let us find out why evil consequences occur.

Deut. 31:14-18. 14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation. 15 And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle. 16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? 18 And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.

Even before the death of Moses, God foretold he and Joshua of the consequences of the children of God, the offspring of Jacob. God would turn his face from his children and allow whatever befall them to occur.

What evils did the children of Israel do to anger God?

this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land This people will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them (vs. 16)

What did God allow to happen to them?

I will forsake them 2. I will hide my face from them 3. they shall be devoured 4. and many evils and troubles shall befall them (vs. 17)

These consequences are the normal group God has used for punishment of those who are believers in God who commit spiritual adultery–whoring after other gods which are not gods. These consequences are upon all humanity of a society, believers and non-believers.

Is there historical evidence God fulfilled this promise he gave to Moses and Joshua? We have studied the want of a king to rule over the children of Israel. They desired a human leader rather than God. what else have they done to anger God? Turn to 1 Kings 11. A prominent leader over Israel forsook God and caused great damage to the house of Israel. Who would do such?

Vss. 1-11. 11 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: 2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.