Heidelberg Catechism Devotional Q10

Q.10. Will God permit such disobedience to go unpunished? 

Aš. Certainly not.  He is terribly angry about the sin we are born with as well as the sins we personally commit.  As a just judge he punishes them now and in eternity.  He has declared: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Monday

Imagine a child who disobeys their mother.  How will she respond?  Anger will rise in her, anger at the stubborn refusal of her child to obey her instructions.  Likewise, God’s response to our disobedience is anger.  Sin, in every shape and size, is a challenge to God’s sovereign authority.  The Almighty cannot rejoice in such behavior, just like a parent can’t be glad or even indifferent to the disobedience of their children.  In fact he must punish it if he is a loving Father.  Read Hebrews 12:8.  Discipline is part of God’s love for his creation.

Tuesday

How angry is God with sin?  Read Romans 1:18.  God is angry enough, that the word describes his punishment as being wrath.  Wrath is intense anger and throughout the prophets we find numerous ways that God’s anger and wrath are expressed.  Sometimes in destroying a city, other times in the image of being trampled underfoot.  Whatever the image or the result, God’s wrath and anger at sin bring about extreme punishment.

Wednesday

If there are any questions about how God deals with sin, both conscious and unconscious.  Read about how God intended to deal with the sin of Moses in Exodus 4:24-26.  When Moses hadn’t carried out the command to circumcise his son, God was ready to kill him.  That is one example of God’s wrath and how seriously he takes disobedience.  Read Jeremiah 50:11-16.  Again the image of Gods anger at sin is stark.  Babylon is to be destroyed, uninhabited, and desolate.  Why?  “Because she has sinned against the Lord,” reads verse 14.  Sin is punished.  God’s anger is upon all who disobey.  Read Jeremiah 7:20.

Thursday

Why does God punish sin?  Because he is just and cannot allow sin to persist indefinitely.  Read Psalm 5:4-6 and Nahum 1:2.  Earlier we learned that sin is a challenge to God’s authority.  It was when Adam and Eve ate from the tree, and it still is a way of saying, “God, I know better than you.”  Rulers and authorities cannot tolerate such behavior and attitudes.  For when the laws of a land are flaunted, then chaos and villainy break loose. God punishes in order to restore order to his kingdom, a kingdom that has no end.

Friday

Read Galatians 3:10 and Deuteronomy 27:26.  After giving the Law to the Israelites, Moses instructs the Levites to affirm that obedience to the Law is imperative and disobedience is fatal.  And all the people are to cry out, “Amen”.  Another way of saying this would be to shout out, “Let it be!”  There is only life in obeying God and there is only death and punishment in refusing to obey.  In fact God’s curse is upon all those who refuse to obey.  Contemplate your sin and God’s wrath today.

Saturday

Is there any hope?  Yes, as we shall see in future questions. But let us not forget the gospel promises amidst such a dire situation.  Read Galatians 3:13.  God must punish disobedience and for the Christian, Christ becomes a curse for us, so that we don’t have to be cursed.  Praise the Lord.  Rejoice in the fact that Christ has taken our punishment.