Reversals Due To Repentance Or Rebellion

Friends,
When God declares that a certain thing will come to pass, as in a calamity or a blessing, is His declaration irreversible? No, it is not, and we can read of numerous examples of this Truth in God’s Word, as well as learn of the causes for the reversal. The causes are, in short, either repentance or rebellion.

If God gives a warning, and the person (or group) repent (turn from sin to faith, trust, obedience, petition, praise, and gratefulness to God), then God will very likely retract His declaration of judgement. If God gives a promise, and the person (or group) rebel (turn from righteousness and begin to distrust, doubt, fear, or neglect God and His commands), God will very likely not bring about the fulfillment of His promise.

This Truth that God reverses His declarations due to our behavior is something many “Christians” do not believe. It may be because they adhere to Calvinism’s false doctrine that says God has preordained all events, decisions, etc., or maybe it’s because they are taught that God does not lie. True, God certainly does not lie, but most of His judgements and promises are indeed conditional. And what is the condition? It is the behavior (and attitudes) of the recipients.

Unfortunately though, many “Christians” do not believe their behavior can change history and eternal destinies. Oh, they may say they believe this, but their apathy in striving for spiritual growth, maturity, power, and holiness… their apathy in evangelizing and extending love, help, and kindness to others in ways needed… and their apathy in taking measures to get to know the Lord and His Word intimately… betray them.

However, our behavior, though it can sometimes result in little consequence, for the most part has a much more enormous affect than we probably could ever realize. Remember the Jimmy Stewart movie “It’s A Wonderful Life”? Even if we don’t affect as much as George did, do we realize what even one uplifting (or cruel) statement might do to someone? It could be the turning point of their career choice, which in turn could be the cure of someone else’s disease, which could then result in a baby otherwise not born, who could then become a general, who could then lead an army to battle, which could then lead to the take-over of a country… and on it goes, not to mention all the multitudes of other people and events affected who and which create their affects as well.

The point is, is that our behavior does have consequences. And that God, though He has perfect foreknowledge of what is going to happen, has ordained that His plans work through our freedom of choice. And that because of this, we need to make correct and godly choices, choices which will result in good on earth and for eternity, and choices which will bring forgiveness and blessing from God, not His wrath and judgment.

Let’s look at 2 Chron. 12:1,2. We read that Rehoboam (the king) and the people “abandoned the law of the LORD. Because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem…” In verse 5 we read, “This is what the LORD says, ‘You have abandoned Me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.’” The king and the leaders then “humbled themselves and said, ‘The LORD is just.’” (v. 6) In seeing them do this, what did the Lord do in return? “When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: ‘Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.’” (v. 7)

Did God remove all of His judgement though? No, in verse 8 God declared that the people would be subject to Shishak. This, however, was a much lighter judgement, for as verse 12 informs us, “Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed.” Behavior –repentant behavior which came from belief in God’s warning– is what changed God’s decision concerning the judgement. And depending upon how we act, we too will incur reversals of God’s judgements… or promises.

Concerning promises revoked, one of the most well-known is when God promised the Israelites a land of their own when He brought them out of Egypt. But did they who received the promise, actually receive the fulfillment of the promise? No, for they rebelled in the time of testing (Heb. 3:8) and were not allowed to enter the fulfillment of the promise (called “God’s rest”) “because of their disobedience.” (4:6) The same holds true for us. (3:12-15 & 4:1,11) –Including God’s promise to us of Eternal Rest (4:7-9) –given to any who kneel before God now (Ps. 95:6,7) and do not rebel by letting their hearts go astray. (v. 8-11)

For more Scriptural examples of reversals of God’s initial declarations read here:

http://knowgodsword.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/god-changes-his-initial-decision/

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

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