LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 81: 8-12, Hear Me, My people, and I will warn you—if you would only listen to Me, Israel! You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than Me. "But My people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to Me. So, I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

The Hebrew people were being led away from captivity in Egypt. They were being led away from a people that worshipped many gods. God knew that where they were being led the people also worshipped many gods. Canaan, the Promised Land would be a place of temptation for His people. He gave Moses a set of ten commandments for them to live by; in following them, He would bless them.  Exodus 20:3, "You shall have no other gods before Me.” The God of Israel is the only god that exists! Any form of worship of any deity but Him is an offense to Him.

This commandment is the beginning thought to understanding God’s nature and His relationship to humanity. Because man violated this when he put his preferences above that of God’s, and sin entered the world. Every act of sin begins with rejecting the Lord’s role as the one and only true God. James 1:14, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” God does not tempt man to sin, to move away from Him. Believers cannot even say He tempts them when He allows trials to come in their direction. He does not tempt anyone to do evil things. But He does allow struggles in their lives to bring them to a deeper relationship with Him.

The Hebrew people did not listen to God. They began to worship the gods of the society around them; they did not submit to Him. So, God gave them over to what their “stubborn hearts” desired. Sounds like what He does today. People today believe they know more than God and are pulled away by their desire to sin. Where does this thought come from? As James wrote, it comes from within the individual’s desire to do what he/she wants to do. It comes from their desire to sin. Even Believers, who have been set free from slavery to sin, have not completely lost the desire to sin. The desire remains, but the power to overcome that desire is given by the presence of Jesus Christ in their lives. Read on in James’s writing to see he writes for Believers to own up to their desire to sin and hold themself responsible for their actions. The trials Believers face is not an excuse to disobey God.

It has been written and said by others that it is a terrible thing when God allows us to do what we desire. That is exactly what happened to the Hebrews; it got them into more difficulties. The world is not our friend! Believers are not to be tied to or desire the things of this world. God responds to rebellion by allowing the natural consequences of our choices. Choose to follow what God has written in His Word – read it, study it, and meditate on it. Be obedient to what it says by walking the narrow way with Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide every day. When you mess up, admit it, knowing that He is faithful to forgive and restore fellowship with Him as He cleanses you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Walking the narrow way is not easy. Jesus said it would be difficult. Do not use the difficulty as an excuse to do what you want!