Divorcing God (2)

Scriptural Text: 1 John 3:1-3

Divorcing God

Gregory Ralph Kingsley (born July 28, 1980) is the first American child, who, at the age of 12 years, legally severed ties with his mother. He changed his name to Shawn Russ after the juvenile court judge Thomas S. Kirk "ended the parental rights of his natural mother and allowed [his] foster parents to adopt him".[1]

Yet, like the landmark case in which “Gregory K.” divorced his parents, the children of Israel divorced God. But note the difference between the cases. Gregory divorced his parents on the charge of neglect (to gain happiness ); Israel divorced God despite His love. Sin is always a dumb and deliberate act.”

God reared (or nourished) the children of Judah, and brought them up. God’s nourishment of His people is love, not law; and covenant, not contract. Laws and contracts are made between adversaries while love and covenants bring together relatives of blood and friends of care.

You can understand why God loved the children of Israel as a parent, guiding them from the Flood, through the Exodus, and into the Promised Land with the hope of a father for a child.

David McKenna and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Isaiah 1–39, The Preacher’s Commentary Series, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1993), 17:52.

Human beings as God’s children (Ge 1:27; Ps 82:6; Mal 2:10)

Genesis 1:27 (ESV) — 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Psalm 82:6 (ESV) — 6 I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;

Malachi 2:10 (ESV) — 10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

The thought of God nourishing His children has particular meaning for us. In an age of single parents who are most often mothers, many children are neglected rather than nourished by their birth fathers. Even in two-parent families, the father may see his role with the children as a duty to be done rather than a love to be given. Because the father’s role tends to be learned, the nature of the father-child relationship may be passed on from generation to generation.

It is a great privilege to be called the Children of God

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God!” (1 John 3:1).

God’s dealings with his children: God loves his children (Dt 1:31; Ps 103:13; Eph 5:1)

Deuteronomy 1:31 (ESV) — 31 and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’

Psalm 103:13 (ESV) — 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

Ephesians 5:1 (ESV) — 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

God does not abandon his children (Dt 31:6; Dt 31:8; Jos 1:5; Heb 13:5; Je 31:9; Mal 3:17; Lk 15:24; Ro 9:26)

Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV) — 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV) — 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Joshua 1:5 (ESV) — 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) — 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Jeremiah 31:9 (ESV) — 9 With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Malachi 3:17 (ESV) — 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.

Luke 15:24 (ESV) — 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Romans 9:26 (ESV) — 26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ”

How can anyone rebel against this love? Such a thought even baffles God.

He states the obvious, “The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib” (v. 3)... Even dumb animals know to whom they belong and from whom they get their nourishment, God says.

Man has rebelled against God. He has chosen to go his own way in life and to do his own thing.

1 John 3:10 (NKJV)10In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

God says to us today “listen and Stop,” “do and demonstrate.”

1. Learn to do good—even with inward cleansing, old habits of sin must be unlearned and new habits of righteousness must be cultivated.

2. Seek justice—personal repentance will inevitably lead to a renewal of social conscience.

3. Reprove the oppressor—those who oppress must be reproved.

4. Defend the fatherless—become an activist on behalf of children who are without fathers because of abandonment, divorce, or death.

5. Plead for the widow—become an advocate for defenseless women who are most vulnerable to schemes and scams that rob them of their sustenance.