No Revolution

But if you will not listen to the voice of the LORD and you rebel against the mouth of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD shall be against you and against your fathers.   I Samuel 12:15

Rebel – A few weeks ago I spent some time in Cuba.  It is a stark reality check for those who believe in socialism or the essential goodness of Man.  In spite of ubiquitous political placards proclaiming the glory of the revolution, the cities are crumbling, the economy is nothing more than the personal bank account of Fidel, and the people express their situation as being in “prison.”  Fifty years of despotism under the banner of civil liberty has done nothing but remove hope from a once-vibrant island.  But we should not be surprised.  Long ago the prophet Samuel proclaimed God’s inviolable law of government.  Rebellion guarantees destruction.

The Hebrew word marah has two contexts – political and theological.  When it comes to God’s governance of the world, these two are mixed.  This verb describes “the attempt of the subordinate to escape from a dependent relationship.”  We might be tempted to cheer such bravery.  After all, we abhor slavery in any form.  But what is at stake here is not liberty but sanity.  My relationship to God is not a two-way street.  He is not ruler because I have chosen Him to be so.  He didn’t take over with a coup.  He is the absolute one and only Creator God who rules by divine right.  To attempt to free myself from my innate and essential dependency on Him is sheer insanity.  Such rebellion can lead to only one thing – death.  In fact, God has so ordered the universe that those who rebel against Him are ultimately guaranteed to experience His unbridled wrath.  What Creator would act otherwise?  It is unconscionable to think that the perfect Creator can abide His own perfectly designed creatures to secede from union with His created order.  Yet that is precisely the objective of rebellion. 

Rebellion is, unfortunately, deeply embedded in the hearts of men.  Under the sugar coating of rights and religion, it is often found in you and me.  Humans are infected with a mental disease called self-centered liberty.  It is lethal but appears harmless.  That’s why we need a prophet – one who brings us the warning from El Shaddai.  If you want to see what rebellion looks like after 50 years, come with me to Cuba.  If you want to see what it looks like after 50 centuries, open your Bible.  The attitude is the same.  So are the consequences. 

In God’s world, you cannot secede and succeed.