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THE REJECTION OF GOD IS A GREAT SIN
LORD’S DAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Deuteronomy 13:6-8

Galatians 6:1-6

 

“Let him that is taught in the word

communicate unto him that teacheth…”

 

THE REJECTION OF GOD IS A GREAT SIN
 
Moses warned Israel that yielding to Satan’s deception would lead to the great sin of rejecting God. They had known God through the Exodus experience; they saw the great works of His extraordinary providence. Moses wrote to command Israel not to hear a prophet or a dreamer who would mislead them to deny the Lord.
 
God would prove them in this matter to see if they were able to keep the greatest commandment to love Him with all their heart and all their soul. He said in Deuteronomy 13:4, “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.” The prophet or the dreamer who misled them would be punished. To reject God and to lead others to worship false gods are such great sins that they deserve the death penalty. The Lord said that in carrying out that punishment for the offender, Israel would put evil away from them.
 
In the days of Moses, the judicial authority was vested on him as a leader of Israel. Joshua, his successor, also had the same powers. When there was sufficient evidence, the offender could be given the death penalty that he deserved. When the Lord separated the offices of leadership in Israel, the punishment of offenders was delegated to the civil government, the office of the king. The priests carried out spiritual matters. The law of punishing the false prophets was applicable when Israel was a nation under God. In the New Testament dispensation, the law that prescribes the death penalty belongs to the civil government. The spiritual ministry belongs to the elders and pastors.
 
The resistance of temptation has to come from within oneself. The people who would persuade Israel to worship false gods would not be strangers, but they would come from among them. Moses mentioned brother, wife or friend as possible guides to falsehood. If these would try to persuade them to worship other gods, they must not consent.
 
THOUGHT: “Yield not to temptation for yielding is sin, Each victory will help you some others to win.” (H. R. Palmer)

PRAYER: Father, may I ever defend Thy faithful words.

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