Lesson 36: God’s Sovereignty Disciplines Us, part 1

Hebrews 12:4-10 - “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.”

God wants us to keep on resisting sin even to the point where our own blood is shed. He says if we keep on sinning, instead of resisting it, He will discipline us! Why? Because He loves us! He wants us to share in His holiness!

Our society tells us discipline is bad so we try to turn God into this grandfather in the sky who would not dare spank His children! He is a grandfather who just rides on a fluffy cloud in the sky and hands out candies and goodies all day to His children! The Bible says God is our Father rather than our grandfather. Just as any good father on earth does, He disciplines His children when they get out of line because He cares about them.


For instance, if my son kept playing out in the street where he could get hurt after I told him not to, and I still caught him doing it, and I proceeded to ground him for a week, am I a bad parent? No! That is what we do as a parent! I love my son, and I see the danger of his behavior so I care enough to intervene. Discipline is good, not bad! So it is with God! He loves us! He cares for His children too much to do nothing! If we get out of line and become a danger to ourselves or other people, He is going to discipline us. In fact, it has been this way from the beginning.

Israel complained about God's provision, so God sent a plague. (Numbers 11)
Miriam & Aaron complained about their leadership and Miriam came down with leprosy. (Numbers 12)
Korah caused a rebellion to usurp leadership and the rebels all died! (Numbers 16)
Achan compromised with sin and he died! (Joshua 7)
King Saul gave half obedience to God and was rejected as king by God. (1 Samuel 15)
David committed murder and lost his son. (2 Samuel 12)
Ananias & Sapphira lied to God and they died! (Acts 5:1-5)
Christians in Corinth were taking communion in an unworthy manner, causing divisions and being selfish and self-centered, and some got sick and others died! (1 Corinthians 11)

We continue this in our next lesson.

* Which of the examples above are you most familiar with?