Rebellion Equals Idolatry

“Samuel said, ‘Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.’” 1 Samuel 15:22-23

Acts of rebellion and insubordination do not please God and they certainly don’t bring honor and glory to His name. Perhaps King Saul thought he had a better idea than what the Lord had directed him to do or maybe he was one who thought that it might be easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission to carry out that plan. Either way his attitude of rebellion was likened to witchcraft and it caused the Lord to reject him as king and consequently his heirs did not receive the throne; an enormous price to pay for his disobedience. Obedience is the best way there is to avoid problems for your household as well as for the generations to come.

Lord, open the eyes of our hearts today so that we might recognize attitudes of rebellion and insubordination when those thoughts rise up within and cause us also to realize just how serious the consequences of acting out those attitudes can be.