Last week, we saw from the Scriptures that God not only instructs that children should be disciplined, He also disciplines His children. Let us see some examples of God’s discipline.
1. Adam and Eve
God had to put Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden after they disobeyed Him by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This was to prevent them from eating from the tree of life as they could not be trusted not to eat that either! (Genesis 3:22-24). He also punished the woman with pain during childbirth, submission to her husband, and sweat-induced labour before the man could harvest benefits from ground (Genesis 3:16-19).
READ ALSO: CHURCH DISCIPLINE (PART 1)
2. The Flood
God sent a flood to destroy the earth due to widespread sin, sparing only Noah and his family. (Genesis 6:5-7, 7:17-23)
3. Miriam’s Leprosy
Miriam was struck with leprosy for speaking against Moses. This was after the Lord had expressed His displeasure in words clearly. (Numbers 12:1-10).
READ ALSO: THE CHURCH: A SCHOOL OR A FAMILY?
4. The Israelites’ 40 Years in the Wilderness
Because of their unbelief and rebellion, God made the Israelites wander in the desert for 40 years instead of entering the Promised Land. That way, the generation of rebellious people all died in the wilderness without entering the Promised Land, except for Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:26-35).
5. Ananias and Sapphira
Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit about their offering and were struck dead as a warning to the early church (Acts 5:1-11).
READ NEXT: CHILD DISCIPLINE (PART 3)
God’s Discipline and Kindness
God does not overlook wrongdoing as many people think He does. He is very loving and kind, but note:
Exo 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Exo 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
In a subsequent analysis, we will see how God determines the discipline he dispenses. You will see there is a specific format that has been precommunicated by Him, which lays out the sentence for different acts of disobedience. Thus, you are not being disciplined randomly but according to a format. We should learn and emulate God’s methods of discipline, and this will produce better results. And the wisdom He manifests when understood, will make you worship Him much better.
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