Solomon and his workers carefully followed God’s instructions (1 Kings 9:4-5). As a result, the temple work was blessed by God and completed in every detail. Here are a few examples of people in the Bible who did not carefully follow one of God’s instructions, and the resulting consequences. It is not enough to partially obey God. Good intentions, honest mistakes and half-hearted obedience is still disobedience.
Adam and Eve:
- Don’t eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17)
- Satan tempted them, and they ate (Genesis 3:1-6)
- They were banished from the Garden of Eden; pain and death were inflicted on all mankind (Genesis 3:24; Romans 5:12)
Nadab and Abihu:
- Fire for the sacrifice must come from the proper source (Leviticus 6:12-13)
- They used unauthorized fire for their sacrifice (Leviticus 10:1)
- They were struck dead (Leviticus 10:2)
Moses:
- “Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water” (Numbers 20:8)
- He spoke to the rock, but also struck it with his staff (Numbers 20:11)
- He was not allowed to enter the promised land (Numbers 20:12)
King Saul:
- Completely destroy the evil Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3)
- He spared the king and kept some of the plunder (1 Samuel 15:8-9)
- God promised to end his reign (1 Samuel 15:16-26)
Uzzah:
- Only a priest can touch the holy furnishings and articles (Numbers 4:15)
- He touched the ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6:6)
- He died instantly (2 Samuel 6:7)
Uzziah:
- Only the priests could offer incense in the temple or tabernacle sanctuary (Numbers 16:39, 40, 18:7)
- He entered the Holy Place in the temple where only priests were allowed to go (2 Chronicles 26:16-18)
- He became a leper (2 Chronicles 26:19)
[print_link] [email_link]