Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:5-12 KJV
- Hebrews 12:8 KJV
When you sin, is there remorse, regret or a dark cloud hanging over you? When you continue in the same sin do bad things happen to you? Hebrews 12:8 tells us "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." God will not let his children live in sin. Often you will get gentle warnings in the form of remorse and regret, but if you continue in sin. God will ramp up the chastisement.
The bible is filled with examples of chastisement of God's children. One that stands out in my mind is in 2 Samuel 24 when David numbered (counted) the people without God instructing him to do so. Why would this be a problem? During this time, a man only had the right to count what belonged to him. Israel belonged to God, not David.
The bible is filled with examples of chastisement of God's children. One that stands out in my mind is in 2 Samuel 24 when David numbered (counted) the people without God instructing him to do so. Why would this be a problem? During this time, a man only had the right to count what belonged to him. Israel belonged to God, not David.
In Exodus 30:12 God told Moses that when you count the Israelites, each one must pay a ransom to the Lord for his soul (life), so there will be no plague on them for being counted. Only God could command a census. Joab knew this and tried to stop David (2 Samuel 24:3) but David prevailed (2 Samuel 24:4) and the people were counted.
David knew he had done wrong and was immediately convicted as described in 2 Samuel 24:10 "And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly."
Since David was a child of God, the chastisement then followed. God gave him three choices as described in 2 Samuel 24:13 "...seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me." David chose the three days of pestilence.
Do you spank misbehaving children that you do not know? Probably not, because they are not your children. Put simply they are not your responsibility. If you never experience chastisement when you do wrong, then there was no salvation - you are not part of the saved few.
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