From the beginning God gave man a choice. He wanted people to choose to love Him, intentionally, by an act of their will. He wants people to love Him for who He is. To trust His ways and His words. To say no to what He says no to, and yes to what He says yes to. He wants us to willingly follow Him because we love Him and we recognize our need for Him.
Throughout the history of man that we have seen so far in our journey through the Bible, over and over again God provided limits, choices, and consequences.
- He told them the rules.
- He let them choose to obey or not.
- He blessed them when they obeyed, and allowed them to suffer the consequences when they chose to disobey.
For the nations of Israel and Judah the dreadful consequences were destined to come because of their bad choices. It was only a matter of time. But oh how different things could have been if they had listened to the prophets and turned from their wicked ways. If they had chosen to follow God’s way instead of their own, they could have avoided years of pain and misery in exile.
When God sets in place choices, limits, and consequences He does it for our own good. Like a loving parent, He wants us to learn to make the right choices. But even when we choose to go our own way, He lovingly waits for us to turn back to Him.
May you choose wisely the next time you are faced with a choice to either go God’s way or your own. Remember the Children of Israel and the seventy years they suffered in exile because they made the wrong choice.
Nehemiah 9:30
For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples.