Daily Manna 19 October
KEY VERSE: 2 Kings 17:14 – “Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.”
TEXT: 2 Kings 17:9-23
9 Also the children of Israel secretly did against the Lord their God things that were not right, and they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city. 10 They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree. 11 There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord had carried away before them; and they did wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger, 12 for they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”
13 Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.” 14 Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 15 And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them. 16 So they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.
19 Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 20 And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His sight. 21 For He tore Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel from following the Lord, and made them commit a great sin. 22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them, 23 until the Lord removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
Life’s experiences have shown that there is no privilege one may have in life or a cherished position that one may attain that cannot be lost or forfeited if one becomes careless about it.
The passage under consideration recounts how the children of Israel lost their privileged position with God. No other nation in the world enjoyed such a privilege and position. But they took undue advantage of God’s promises to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and abused the privilege of being God’s choice as a nation. Probably, they thought that since God had made a covenant promise to Abraham to bless him and his seed forever, they would always enjoy that promise no matter what they did. They committed abominable atrocitiesand followed the examples of the heathen nations around them. Consequently, God had to bring judgment on them. He sent the Assyrian king who conquered and carried them away to strange lands.
Anyone who misuses the great opportunity God has given him and abuses His grace is sure to face the consequences. There is nothing like a permanent, eternally secured position. It is wrong to believe, like some people do, that “once a son, always a son” irrespective of what one does.
If we do not want to suffer a rejection like the nation of Israel did, then we must ensure that we do not abuse the grace of God. It is true that He wants us to be saved and has the power to keep us so; we must however realise that this is only on the condition that we hear His voice and obey His word. Anyone who has truly received the grace of God will surely live a life that pleased God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If you spurn and spite the grace of God, you will be spanked and scourged by Him!
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 56-60
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – When Grace is Spurned – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 19 October 2021
