How Does God Warn the Disobedient? (Rom. 11:1-10)
People often insist that they should be given adequate warning before they are expected to behave in a certain way.
Illustration: When I was a child I would protest vigorously if I was not given fair warning before receiving punishment. For this reason it was particularly distressing when I was not given warning when attacked on a lonely stretch of road outside of Ilorin, Nigeria. One day while I was traveling to a church planting conference we were attacked, without warning, by a gang of armed robbers. They forced all of us to lay face down on the pavement as they robbed everything we had. One of the thieves even took my shoes which caused great discomfort. As we lay on the hot ashphalt that afternoon in December of 1989 we watched as the armed robbers brazenly took advantage of the situation. The bandits took 45 minutes to use our car as a road block so they could surprise passers-by and rob the passengers of twelve more cars.
Evil delights to take people unaware by stealing, slaughtering, killing and destroying. God is just the opposite. He gives everyone plenty of warning before He meets out just punishments. The following are some of the ways that God provides warning signs to keep us safe and blessed.
1. Paul explains that God has always given Israel plenty of warning before meeting out His just treatment on a disobedient people. God’s only gives out the just punishment that is deserved to those who are guilty of the sins of commission, the sins of omission, the sins of wrong disposition (faulty attitudes) or the sins of wrong assumptions (about His character or their responsibilities). Take for example the prophet Elijah who had a habit of exaggerating his difficulties. Elijah said to God, "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me." God answered him by saying, "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace." (Rom. 11:3,4)
We should take that as a reminder that God does not approve of those who exaggerate the good or the bad to prove their point.
Be assured that God will always correct those who are not totally honest or aware of how He remains in sovereign control of all things. Do not think that we can manipulate God through emotional exaggerations that we think might impress Him or others.
We should remember that God can do all things even when the worst seems to be happening to us.
2. God warns all of us to not fall into the trap of self-pity as Elijah did. The great prophet thought that God would provide special mercy to him if he inflated the horrible situation he seemed to be facing. Do not think that you can impress God by becoming hysterical, emotional or imaginative in your explanations of a trial.
Allow the Lord to help rescue you in His own time without thinking that special invocations have to be made to get Him to act on your behalf.
3. God warns those who think they can depreciate others. Elijah was subtly casting dispersions on the rest of his people who he thought were not measuring up to his level of spirituality. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked when we arrogantly think too highly of ourselves. Have a sane estimate of your own ability and thank God that he allows you to be one part of the body of Christ.
4. God warns people for their pride when they think that their doctrine, knowledge or understanding is superior to that of others. God hates a haughty spirit because he knows that it opposes a spirit-filled mind. Accept the Lord’s warnings to be humble about the level of maturity you may have reached without becoming smug, over-bearing or arrogant.
5. God warns people, like the the seven thousand that they too should be more vocal in their witness. No wonder Elijah felt discouraged and alone, the seven thousand could have been more visible with their witness and vocal with their faith. Do not think that the silent majority will be left without having to give an account of their failure to bear witness to the truth.
6. God warns careless people who are indifferent to the ministries that they are called to. Many are called, but few are chosen. It is evident that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Why is it that there are always a shortage of godly workers for the ministries of God. People should be aware that Jesus Christ warned the church of Laodicea for their indifference by saying, "Because you are lukewarm I will spit you out of my mouth." (Rev. 3)
Ask the Lord to help you overcome any attitude of indifference, carelessness or complacency which will surely be dealt with by one to whom we must give an account.
7. God warns people who try to judge others. Elijah thought that he could make a wholesale condemnation of everyone in Israel, but He forgot that God was the only righteous and objective judge.
Paul reminds us, "Judge nothing before the appointed time." (2 Cor. 4) Jesus said, "Judge not and you will not be judged.For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matt. 7:1,2)
Jesus hated the judgmental spirit of the Pharisees because He knew that these people were trying to play the role of God. The Lord is a jealous God and He will not share His rights and responsibilities with mere mortals. Man’s judgments are always biased and incomplete and tend do much harm. God’s judgments are perfect and all of His ways are just and right. James wrote, "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge. The one who is able to save and destroy. But you - who are you to judge your neighbor?" (James 4:12)
Stop being so cynical and allow God to judge all people in all situations by His time table and standards.
8. God warns people through the rejected of Israel because of their unbelief. People who think that they will go free because of a neutral attitude toward God are sadly mistaken. If we do not use our privileges they will be taken away from us. The neglect of opportunities, talents and responsibilites is a serious sin against God. James wrote, "If anyone knows the right thing to do but fails to do it, for him this is sin." If God did not spare Israel from all of its misery and punishment surely He will not spare those of us who become guilty of similar demonstrations of unbelief.
9. God warns people to make decisions when they have opportunity or their hearts will become hardened. How many young person has said in their mind, "I will wait until I am old and then I will give myself to the Lord’s service." However, by procrastinating, many well meaning person has missed out on a life of fruitfulness and settled for a life of second bests. Do not let your eyes and heart become darkened by failing to act on what you know to do is right today.
The opposite of love is apathy.
Make appropriate responses to God’s call in your life today or tomorrow may be too late. Indifference is like a cancer that once left untreated spreads throughout the whole body.
Ask the Lord to help you to believe, act and be responsive to every aspect of His will so you will not have to live in eternal regret as many of the Jews have for centuries.
