What Part of No Don’t You Understand? Part 2: Nothing New
- elynnewig
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
This is Mary Magdalen, and yes, I am still with you. I am still trying to get you to consider a change. We have been delving into understanding God’s no. To remind you plainly, the question is, what part of no don’t you understand?
Now, I have already provided my credentials. And since I am still with you, Jesus must be with me, too. After all, God promised to be with us, right? (Joshua 1:9; Matthew 28:20). How’s that for a little of the old and a little of the new – Testaments that is – for a reminder?
Let’s continue…
The one-night stand. Now, for our purposes, this notion of praising on Sunday, communicating and fellowshipping throughout the Sunday worship experience, praying, and studying. The praise is so strong for such a pitiful moment. Why do you seem to forget Him on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday? Why do folks decide to step out of or step away from His loving, heartwarming circle – what is going on after the momentary glow?
Well, from our vantage point up above… when we are up there looking down at all that is happening on earth. Wow, it’s mindboggling! It is that chaos is becoming too normal. Could it be due to these ever-revolving one-night stands?!
Why ask that? Because if it were not a case of one-night stands, I would not see all this stuff. For example, why has systemic racism had an uptick in acceptance? What is going on with all the mass shootings? Do not imagine for a second that we do not see the chaos surrounding the handling of stereotyped people. The utter abuse heaped upon people because they want to cross a border. The shameful mixing of those who want to cause harm and break laws with those who want a better way of life.
And how about a pandemic that got so out of control that even when the number of those infected subsided, and when workable solutions and treatments were found and tested, why are COVIDs effects still being felt throughout the world? And why are measles back? What is this double talk that reports so many U.S. jobs have been created, but unemployment and underemployment plague the average family?
Everywhere we, in heaven, look at God’s earthly kingdom, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. The wise are heard less, and the voices of the ignorant and delusional are ringing from the rooftops. Just how many of you are going to opt for getting into that downward spiraling handbasket to you know where?!
Trials on every hand, and God is constantly saying no. But His stiff-necked people just don’t seem to understand!!
This thing of not understanding is nothing new. It has been going on for quite some time. To illustrate the point, for a few moments, come and go with me down memory lane.
In the beginning, God said no to Adam and Eve. Remember? He told them, you cannot eat of the tree of life. He told them I have given you everything you need just stay away from that one tree. “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you will surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17 NIV)
The first couple enjoyed God’s gift, but then decided to turn from God and eat of that tree anyway. And all it took was a serpent opening its luring mouth. God said no. Adam and Eve disobeyed. Even hiding their nakedness could not help them escape God’s response. Get out of my garden! What part of No don’t you understand?
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Another example, God said no to the Egyptians. His message of no said you can no longer have the people I have chosen. Let them go. (Exodus and Numbers). Time after time, plague after plague, God told those Egyptians NO. And those Egyptians ignored His voice, turned their backs on His commands. Maybe they somehow thought the message was coming from Moses. After all, the Egyptians didn’t believe Moses was God’s spokesman. Even after Pharaoh lost his son, they had the nerve to think their heart-hardened, disobedient “no” was more powerful than God’s omnipotent NO. They even chose death over life and chased the Israelites into the Red Sea. Didn’t they understand “NO”?
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How about this one… God said no to the Israelites – Do not worship anyone, or anything but me. Worship me and only me. While Moses is up on the mountain top, why were His people down in the valley building idols out of gold? When you do not understand God’s no, his response will be impactfully swift. He told his people, No entry into the promised land for you. Just carry yourselves out there and wander the land until every last hardheaded person of your generation is gone. (Numbers 14:31-34 NIV). See what happens when you don’t understand God’s NO?
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Now, back to you all living on earth. Love God today, forget God tomorrow. I don’t understand!! Do you do that? Okay, you do not need to fess up. But you know you do, or else I would not be here.
Your predecessors and ancestors heard God say no. He said, “No, do not forget me. When things go wrong, do not be weak. No. I am calling on you to be courageous. When the last Amen is sung on Sunday, God tells you: No, do not push me aside and forget who I am. What part? What part of “No” don’t you understand?
Nothing new. This habit of not understanding God’s NO is nothing new. What I ask you to do for this history-making moment in which you live is to take a little time to continue to consider the question: What part of no don’t you understand?
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