A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

make furniture. As God was the Creator, man was the maker. No one reads of angels who could control their
environment or their destiny. Man was told to cohabitate and repopulate, no one reads of angels enjoying this
privilege.
Man was given the privilege and responsibility of freedom. By the exercise of his personality he could
serve God, or he could eat the forbidden fruit. Freedom rightly exercised has its rewards, and God
communicated with man in the cool of the day. But freedom also has its potential hazards. God knew the
dangers and warned man that if he disobeyed by eating the fruit, “Thou shalt surely die.”
God judged the angels who refused to remain in their state. He created a burning hell for Lucifer and
the angels who rebelled against Him. Those angels who obeyed God were frozen in perpetual service. They
would never be tempted to disobey.
“What if man rebels?” thought the angels.
There is risk in freedom. God knew when He created free man, that man could not handle freedom.
God knew man would rebel and that He would have to punish man as He had punished the fallen angels.
“Is the risk worth it?” asked the angels.
God seeketh such as should worship Him, and worship is nothing when it is forced. God is love and
He wanted to have a man who could love Him in return. It was imperative that men have freedom, for love
and freedom go hand in hand.
“What if free man chooses not to worship God?” the angels continued.
God will shower His love on man in giving Him rain for food and sun for strength. God will give Him
intelligence to provide for his needs.
“Is that enough to get man’s loyalty?” again the angels asked.
God will speak to man through his conscience. Man’s conscience will let him know what to do and
avoid. Then man will see the existence of God through the blueprint of God in nature. Man will intuitively
know about God.
“Why will God do all this for man?” finally the angels asked. No one can fathom the purpose and love
of God. God the Creator made man and gave him life. Then God gave man constant opportunities to worship
Him. But man continually rebels. The opportunities of freedom became the trap of slavery.
God devised a plan for him. After man rebelled against God, God gave him another opportunity to be
saved and worship the Lord. God’s Son would be judged in the place of man. He would be the Lamb slain
before the foundation of the world (cf. 1 Peter 1:20; Rev. 5:6), because God planned to restore man even
before man rebelled. Why? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
PERSPECTIVE: THE REBELLION CONTINUES TO THE END
The Scriptures describe the continuing contest between Lucifer and God. When Cain murdered his
brother, or David committed adultery with Bathsheba, the rebellion against God continued. When Israel fell
down to a false idol or the church accepted the doctrine of Balaam, the rebellion that was first evident in
Lucifer is carried on by others. The original conflict between Lucifer and God is seen only faintly in the
embryonic scenes of past history, but becomes clearer as the Old Testament pages unfold to the reader.
Though there is no indication in Scripture that Lucifer will ever end his rebellious attitude toward God,
the time is coming when God will declare an end to his rebellious acts. “Those who see you gaze at you, and
consider you saying, `Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world
as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?’ “ (Isa. 14:16-17) The
rebellion that once began in heaven will ultimately end in hell.