“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt…But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would have none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels” (Psalm 81:10-12).

Have you ever heard the expression, “So they got what they wanted”? This is a powerful principle that sometimes a person just absolutely demands something, even if it is not good for them. The ancient people of God refused to follow the Lord. They rebelled and insisted on having things their own way.  Long ago a nanny who was new to the family was traveling with the spoiled children of wealthy passengers who were seated far from them in the train. The spoiled child fussed and cried. In a moment of arrogance the wealthy mother came up the aisle and sternly said, “Give my child whatever he wants. You are creating an unnecessary commotion.” Before she could reach her seat, she heard the child scream. Now the mother was furious. Stomping back up to the nanny, the mother shouted, “Didn’t I tell you to let my child have whatever he wished?” The young nanny quietly replied, “Yes, you did. Your child wanted the bee on the window, so I let him have it, just as you said.” What a picture of rebellious people. Sometimes God lets them have just what they demand. May this never be true of you and me.

For today: I want to hearken to God’s voice (in His Word) and walk in His ways. How about you?