Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Jeremiah 28:16 (NIV)
“Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’”
Jeremiah 28:16 (MSG)
“And so God says, ‘You claim to be sent? I’ll send you all right—right off the face of the earth! Before the year is out, you’ll be dead because you instigated sedition against God.’”
********************************************
“Therefore thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am about to send you away from the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have spoken and counseled rebellion against the Lord.’” -AMPLIFIED
“Hananiah, by blatantly disrespecting and contradicting God’s words, incurs God’s wrath. The message is two-fold. First, God reinforces His prophecy by strengthening the wooden yolks to iron yolks in addition to repeating the original prophecy (27:7). No matter what one says to deter people from the truth, God’s truth only grows stronger. Second, God pronounces a death sentence on Hananiah. Because he is instructing the people to turn away from God, he has fallen under divine judgment. No one should ever speak in God’s name unless God (through the Holy Spirit) is truly speaking through one.” ~Melissa Beaty
Yesterday’s text reminded us to know how to separate the truth from the lies, for there will be false prophets like Hananiah who will try to get us to believe their lies.
“The prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord did not send you, but you have led these people to trust in a lie.” -Jeremiah 28:15 (CSB)
Hananiah’s story comes to a sad end, as we have learned. God held Hananiah accountable for his words and actions, and there would be consequences. God’s Message to Hananiah:
“So the Eternal now says this to you: “Pay attention. I am about to wipe you from the face of the earth. Because you have stirred up rebellion against Me with your words, you will die this year.” -(VOICE)
The Lord, through Jeremiah says to Hananiah: “‘Soon I will remove you from the earth. You will die this year. This is because you taught the people to turn against the Lord.’” -(ICB)
What Hananiah had done was wrong, it was a sin. Hananiah had not only led the people into believing a lie, but he encouraged their rebellion against God.
Hananiah was to be held accountable for his actions. Take note though of God’s mercy to him, giving him time to repent of his sin. We serve a God of mercy and second chances. Nowhere are we told that Hananiah had a change of heart, but God did give him two months to repent of his sin and to change his wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14). Two months may not seem like a long time, but it only takes a moment to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness.
“This was God’s message to Hananiah. He gave a time measure for his prophecy, so God gave him a time measure in return: Hananiah would die within the year, and he did. He died in the seventh month, only two months after this confrontation (Jeremiah 28:1). Two months is not a long time, but it is plenty of time to repent if one has any inclination to repent.” ~David Guzik
“Therefore the Lord says you must die. This very year your life will end because you have rebelled against the Lord.” -(TLB)
“God, in mercy, gave him about two months, in which he might prepare to meet his Judge. Here, then the true prophet was demonstrated, and the false prophet detected. The death of Hananiah, thus predicted, was God’s seal to the words of his prophet; and must have gained his other predictions great credit among the people.” ~Adam Clarke
Scripture reminds us that everyone will be held accountable for how they have chosen to live their lives. And we are also reminded that there are consequences to our actions.
Paul told the Galatians that what they sowed they would reap.
“Make no mistake: God can’t be mocked. What you give is what you get. What you sow, you harvest. Those who sow seeds into their flesh will only harvest destruction from their sinful nature. But those who sow seeds into the Spirit shall harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” -Galatians 6:7-8 (VOICE)
Paul told the Romans that a day would come when each of us must give an account to the Lord.
“So then, every one of us will have to give an account of himself to God.” -Romans 14:12 (Complete Jewish Bible)
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God sees everyone and everything, nothing is hidden from Him, and we will have to give to Him an accounting of our lives.
“No creature can hide from God: God sees all. Everyone and everything is exposed, opened for His inspection; and He’s the One we will have to explain ourselves to.” -Hebrews 4:13 (VOICE)
“The Bible is not a book like any other. It makes a claim that God spoke and speaks through its message. It argues that as his creatures, we are accountable to him for what he has revealed. The trustworthiness of Scripture points to its authority as well. Scripture is far more than a history book, as good and trustworthy as that history is. It is a book that calls us to examine our lives and relationship to God. Beyond the fascinating history, it contains vital and life-transforming truths about God and us.” ~Darrell Bock
In the book of Revelations, John tells us that he saw, in his vision, all mankind standing before the Throne of God, waiting to be judged:
“And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened; and another book was opened, the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from what was written in the books, according to what they had done. The sea gave up the dead in it; and Death and Sh’ol gave up the dead in them; and they were judged, each according to what he had done. Then Death and Sh’ol were hurled into the lake of fire. This is the second death — the lake of fire. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was hurled into the lake of fire.” -Revelation 20:12-15 (Complete Jewish Bible)
A few chapters later, in the book of Revelations, John records this Message from the Lord:
The Anointed One: “See, I am coming soon, and I will bring My reward with Me. I will pay back every person according to the deeds he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the First One and the Last One, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their garments. In the end, they have rightful access to the tree of life and will enter the city through its gates. The dogs, the sorcerers, those who commit immoral acts, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love and practice deception must remain outside the gates for all eternity.” -Revelation 20:12-15 (VOICE)
“Accountability is the state of being accountable or answerable. We are liable for every action we take and every thought we have. We will one day be called on to render on account of our life. We will bear the obligation for each action, thought and spoken word.” ~Ashley Evans
My friend, we all must answer, be accountable, for our own personal lives; our actions, our words, and how we have chosen to live our lives. One day we will stand before the Throne of God and give an accounting of how we have lived, and of what we have done for Him, and with the gifts that He has given to us. How does that make you feel? If it makes you feel uncomfortable, then it is time to make things right with the Lord.
“I am accountable.
I am correctable.
I am transformable.
Presenting myself a living sacrifice to God.
By the love of God.
By the word of God.
Completely supplied in Christ Jesus.
Unto all good works.” ~Carlton T. Brown
My Prayer:
Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, I am reminded that one day I must give an accounting of my life to you. I will stand before your Throne, and you will look into your books, to see if my name is written in your Book of Life. You will reward me according to how I have run the race. Lord, my deepest desire is to hear you say, “Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter in…” Lord, help me to consciously, and consistently make wise choices. May I always keep at the forefront of my mind the fact that I must live a life that is holy and acceptable to you.
Growing with God 