Consequences of Deserting God's Servants in Scripture
Consequences of Deserting God's Servants in Scripture
Deserting God's servants is a serious offense that has severe consequences, as seen throughout the biblical narrative. The Israelites' failure to remain faithful to God's commands and their treatment of his messengers often resulted in divine judgment.
The biblical text warns that forsaking God's servants and disobeying his commands can lead to severe consequences, including destruction and desolation. In Deuteronomy, Moses cautions the Israelites that marrying into idolatrous families will lead them away from following God, resulting in his anger and swift destruction [3]. Similarly, Hosea 4:6 states that "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" because they have rejected knowledge and forgotten God's law [2].
The consequences of deserting God's servants are not limited to individual actions but can also affect the community as a whole. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, allying with the enemies of God is forbidden and can lead to idolatry, provoke God's anger, and result in enslavement [4]. The Israelites' history demonstrates this, as their disobedience and idolatry led to judgment and punishment, including plague, famine, and captivity [5, 6].
The prophets emphasize that God's judgment is a direct response to the people's actions. Isaiah 5:24 warns that rejecting God's instruction and despising his word will lead to destruction, likening it to a tongue of fire consuming straw [1]. Jeremiah laments that the land mourns due to the curse resulting from the people's adultery and swearing, indicating a deep-seated corruption [7].
The New Testament continues this theme, warning against disobedience and its consequences. Hebrews 3:7-19 uses the example of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings to caution against disobedience, highlighting the severe consequences of rejecting God's commands [8].
The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin, understands God's judgment as a removal of his protection, leaving his people vulnerable to external threats and internal decay. Calvin notes that when God removes his protection, the "fence has been removed, the cattle will tread on it and lay it bare, robbers will ransack and plunder it, and thus it will become a wilderness" [9].
Sources
- Isaiah “Isaiah 5:24 (BSB) — Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw, and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
- King James Version “[KJV] Hosea 4:6 — My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 7:4 (BSB) — because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Alliance and Society With the Enemies of God — Forbidden -- Ex 23:32; 34:12; De 7:2,3; 13:6,8; Jos 23:6,7; Jdj 2:2; Ezr 9:12; Pr 1:10,15; 2Co 6:14-17; Eph 5:11. Lead to idolatry -- Ex 34:15,16; Nu 25:1-8; De 7:4; Jdj 3:5-7; Re 2:20. Have led to murder and human sacrifice -- Ps 106:37,38. Provoke the anger of God -- De 7:4; 31:16,17; 2Ch 19:2; Ezr 9:13,14; Ps 106:29,40; Isa 2:6. Provoke God to leave mean to reap the fruits of them -- Jos 23:12,13; Jdj 2:1-3. Are ensnaring -- Ex 23:33; Nu 25:18; De 12:30; 13:6; Ps 106:36. Are enslaved -- 2Pe 2:18,19. Are defiling -- Ez”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Plague or Pestilence, The — Inflicted by God -- Eze 14:19; Hab 3:5. One of God's four sore judgments -- Eze 14:21. Described as noisome -- Ps 9:13. Israel threatened with, as a punishment for disobedience -- Le 26:24,25; De 28:21. Desolating effects of -- Ps 91:7; Jer 16:6,7; Am 6:9,10. Equally fatal day and night -- Ps 91:5,6. Fatal to man and beast -- Ps 78:50; Jer 21:6. Sent upon The Egyptians. -- Ex 12:29,30. Israel for making golden calf. -- Ex 32:35. Israel for despising manna. -- Nu 11:33. Israel for murmuring at destruction of Korah. -- Nu 16:46-50. Israel fo”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Judgments — Are from God -- De 32:39; Job 12:23; Am 3:6; Mic 6:9. Different kinds of Blotting out the name. -- De 29:20. Abandonment by God. -- Ho 4:17. Cursing men's blessings. -- Mal 2:2. Pestilence. -- De 28:21,22; Am 4:10. Enemies. -- 2Sa 24:13. Famine. -- De 28:38-40; Am 4:7-9. Famine of hearing the word. -- Am 8:11. The sword. -- Ex 22:24; Jer 19:7. Captivity. -- De 28:41; Eze 39:23. Continued sorrows. -- Ps 32:10; 78:32,33; Eze 24:23. Desolation. -- Eze 33:29; Joe 3:19. Destruction. -- Job 31:3; Ps 34:16; Pr 2:22; Isa 11:4. Inflicted upon Nations. -- Ge 15:14;”
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 23:10: adulterers--spiritual, that is, forsakers of God, Israel's true Husband (Isa 54:5) for idols, at the instigation of the false "prophets" (Jer 23:9, Jer 23:15). Literal adultery and fornication, the usual concomitants of idolatry, are also meant. swearing--MAURER, &c., translate, "Because of the curse (of God on it), the land mourneth" (Deu 27:15-26; Deu. 28:15-68; Isa 24:6). More than usual notoriety had been given to the curses of the law, by the finding and reading of it in Josiah's time (Kg2 22:11, &c.). But Hos 4:2-3, favors English Version (c”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 3:7: 3:7-19 This passage presents, “as a warning to us” (1 Cor 10:6), the negative example of those who wandered in the wilderness for forty years and died there. The wilderness wanderings represent disobedience to God and its consequences (see Num 32:7-11; Deut 1:19-35; Ps 106:24-26).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 11.11: destroying it both within and without; for when his protection has been removed, they must become a prey to all that pass by, whether men or beasts. “When the fence has been removed,” says he, “the cattle will tread on it and lay it bare, robbers will ransack and plunder it, and thus it will become a wilderness.” 6. I will lay it waste. God will not take pains to dig and prune it, and consequently it will become barren for want of dressing; briars and thorns will spring up to choke its branches; and, what is more, by withholding rain, God wi”