Hebrews 12:5-7 And you have forgotten the exhortation which spoke unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?
‘My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of him. Quoted from Proverbs 3:11-12. We are not to shrink away from chastening.
Some Christians do not think of chastening any other way except by sickness and disease. They believe they are being chastened when sick and yet they know nothing in particular that they have done. The facts below prove that when God actually allows plagues there is a reason which will be known to the individual or nation (satan still delivers them because of access given through sin – John 8:44; 10:10; Isa. 59:1-3; Job 2:7). God never uses drastic means except as a last resort, when all other methods of getting men to obey have been exhausted. Leviticus 26:1-46 and Deuteronomy 28:1-68 are clear chapters on this point. In Job 3:25; 33:14-29 we have the cause of sickness in many cases.
If a child of God wants to claim he is being chastened by God, then let him acknowledge also that he has repeatedly refused to listen to God or obey Him (Job 33:1-33). Let him acknowledge his sins, for God does not send plagues upon obedient children. They are given promises of healing and protection from plagues if they will but appropriate them (Ex. 15:26; Ps. 91:1-16; 103:3; Matt. 7:9-11; 17:20; 21:22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; John 14:12-15; 15:7, 16; 1Pet. 2:24; 2Jn. 1:2; Jas. 5:14-16). Only those who sow will reap and only those who rebel will be cursed (Gal. 6:7-8; Job 33:14-29; Lev. 26:1-46; Deut. 28:1-68).
To be continued…
Living the Word 