Okay, so I’ve been digging into this whole “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” thing from the Bible (1 Samuel 15:23, if you’re curious). It’s a pretty intense statement, and I wanted to see if I could really understand what it means in a practical way, not just some dusty old theology.
First, I started by just reading the verse in its context. You know, not just ripping it out and slapping it on everything. I read the whole chapter, a few times actually. It’s about King Saul, and he totally messes up. God tells him to do something specific, and Saul…kind of does it. He does most of it, but then makes his own little tweaks.
So, I thought, okay, what did I do today? I looked back over my day. Did I do anything where I knew what I was supposed to do, but then I kind of…bent the rules a little? Maybe I stretched the truth a bit on something to make myself look better? Or I ignored that little voice in my head telling me to do the right thing, and instead I went with what was easier or more convenient?
- I remembered that I was supposed to finish that report for my boss, the one he specifically said he needed first thing tomorrow. But instead of doing that, I spent a couple of hours scrolling through social media. That’s a pretty clear example of me knowing what I was supposed to do, but choosing to do something else. Rebellion, even if it’s small-scale.
- I considered the way I follow my parent’s instruction. Do I always listen to them? I mean there is always instruction they told me to do something, but I do the total opposite!
- I also realized I’d been putting off apologizing to a friend for something I said. I knew I was wrong, but my pride was getting in the way. That’s another form of rebellion, isn’t it? Rebelling against what I know is right.
Then I started thinking about the “witchcraft” part. That sounds super dramatic, but I think it’s about trying to control things that aren’t mine to control. Like, Saul was trying to control the situation to make himself look good, instead of trusting God. I do that too, sometimes. I try to manipulate situations or people to get what I want, instead of trusting that God has a plan.
My takeaway?
This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware. Aware of those little moments where I choose my own way instead of God’s way. And then, it’s about making a conscious effort to turn back. To choose obedience, even when it’s hard. It’s a daily, sometimes hourly, struggle. But understanding the weight of that verse, “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,” it just kind of puts things in perspective. It makes me want to try harder, to be more mindful, to be more obedient. It’s still a work in progress, for sure.
