Examples of Resisting God's Call in Personal Life
Resisting God's call in personal life manifests in various forms, often rooted in a refusal to acknowledge divine authority or guidance. This resistance can range from outright rebellion to subtle forms of neglect and disbelief.
One primary example of resisting God's call is through open rebellion against His laws and covenant. The psalmist notes that some "failed to keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law" [1]. This is not merely a passive oversight but an active rejection of divine instruction. Such rebellion is forbidden and is said to provoke God and vex the Holy Spirit [3]. The prophet Isaiah describes this as "revolting from him" and "despising his law" [3]. In the New Testament, this concept is further developed, with the author of Hebrews warning against "deliberately" sinning, which is understood as open rebellion against God's laws and specifically a rejection of Christ and his work [9]. This rejection of Christ's sacrifice means there is no other means of atonement [9].
Another form of resistance is exhibited through unbelief and distrust. Deuteronomy 9:23 and Psalm 106:24-25 illustrate how unbelief can lead to a refusal to hearken to God [3]. This distrust can extend to God's power, as seen in Ezekiel 17:15 [3]. The wicked person, according to Psalm 10:13, may say in their heart, "God won’t call me into account," demonstrating a profound disbelief in divine judgment [2]. This attitude reflects a rejection of God's government and a despising of His counsels [3].
Neglecting God's call can also be seen in a failure to engage in worship or prayer. John Gill, commenting on Isaiah 43:21, notes that the Jews, though descendants of a praying person, did not follow his example but were more like heathens who did not call on the Lord's name [4]. This can encompass the whole worship of God, not just prayer [4]. Similarly, Isaiah 1:15 indicates that God will not respond to prayers offered from a life of persistent wickedness, where people pervert His laws and practice violent injustice [5, 10]. This suggests that a life lived contrary to God's will renders one's attempts at communication with Him ineffective.
The rejection of God's invitation or advice is another significant example. Proverbs 1:24-27 speaks of those who ignore God's advice, which is equated with ignoring the call of God Himself, communicated through creation and Scripture [7]. Jesus himself warned that those who reject God’s invitation are not worthy to enter His Kingdom [6]. In the Gospels, some individuals rejected Jesus because they feared their world being "upset" by His power to give salvation [8]. This fear of change or disruption can lead to a direct refusal to heed God's final Prophet, Jesus, which carries severe consequences [11].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 78:10 (BSB) — They failed to keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law.”
- Psalms “Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?” -- Psalms 10:13”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 43:21: But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob,.... The Jews, though they were the posterity of Jacob, a praying person, yet did not tread in his steps, but were more like the Heathens that called not on the name of the Lord; though there is no necessity of restraining this to prayer, it may regard the whole worship of God, which is sometimes included in the invocation of his name; and so the Targum, "and ye come not to my worship, O ye of the house of Jacob.'' The Jews, in Christ's time, did not call upon his name, nor believe in him, nor receive his Gospel, nor subm”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 1:15: 1:15 I will not look . . . I will not listen: The Lord does not respond to prayer offered from a life of persistent wickedness. In this case, God charged the people with perverting his laws in order to practice violent injustice toward innocent victims.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 22:8: 22:8 Those who reject God’s invitation aren’t worthy to enter his Kingdom (cp. 3:8; 10:13, 37-38).”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 1:24: 1:24-27 You ignored my advice—i.e., the call of God himself (see Ps 14). God calls to us through creation (Ps 8; Rom 1:18-20) and Scripture (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 8:34: 8:34 The tragedy of the incident is that those who witnessed the Son of God’s power to give salvation feared having their world upset, so they rejected him.”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 10:26: 10:26-31 The author interjects a strong warning concerning the danger of rejecting God’s Son and his authoritative word. The warning challenges hearers to respond with a commitment to follow Christ. 10:26-27 deliberately: Open rebellion against God’s laws was described as “sinning with a high hand” (see study note on Num 15:30-31). Here the author has in mind specifically a rejection of Christ and his work. Christ’s sacrifice for sins has done away with the sacrificial system of the old covenant (Heb 9:11–10:18). If a person rejects the Son’s sacrifice, there is”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 7:13: 7:13 The result of such traditions was to cancel the word of God. • only one example among many others: It was not an isolated instance; see, e.g., Isa 1:10-20; 58:1-14.”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 3:23: 3:23 Refusing to heed Jesus, God’s final Prophet, would have disastrous consequences (John 3:16, 17, 36).”