Bad decisions and their consequences

 

Bad decisions- we all make them but then we must all pay for them by taking the consequences for them- I include myself in that, too. Often these bad decisions are made hastily without thought of things, other times they even can be premeditated too and malicious. Whatever the cause of the bad decision, there always will be consequences for them. I present in this study various chapters which illustrate some of the bad decisions made and the consequences made because of them. This is not exhaustive but gives a good idea.

In Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve made the decision to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit, although they were tempted by the serpent. The failure to resist would put all mankind under sin for eternity as well as get them kicked out of the garden of Eden. God would eventually remedy the sin problem by sending Jesus

(Genesis 3:1)  Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?"

 

(Genesis 3:2)  And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,

 

(Genesis 3:3)  but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'"

 

(Genesis 3:4)  But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.

 

(Genesis 3:5)  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

 

(Genesis 3:6)  So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

 

(Genesis 3:7)  Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

 

(Genesis 3:8)  And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

 

(Genesis 3:9)  But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"

 

(Genesis 3:10)  And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."

 

(Genesis 3:11)  He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

 

(Genesis 3:12)  The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."

 

(Genesis 3:13)  Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

 

(Genesis 3:14)  The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

 

(Genesis 3:15)  I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

 

(Genesis 3:16)  To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."

 

(Genesis 3:17)  And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

 

(Genesis 3:18)  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.

 

(Genesis 3:19)  By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

 

(Genesis 3:20)  The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

 

(Genesis 3:21)  And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

 

(Genesis 3:22)  Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever--"

 

(Genesis 3:23)  therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.

 

(Genesis 3:24)  He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

 

The next one I am using for this study is Exodus 14 when Pharaoh is hardened and decides to chase after the children of Egypt- and he and his army as a consequence are drowned in the Red Sea which opened for the Israelites but closes on them

(Exodus 14:1)  Then the LORD said to Moses,

 

(Exodus 14:2)  "Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.

 

(Exodus 14:3)  For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, 'They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.'

 

(Exodus 14:4)  And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." And they did so.

 

(Exodus 14:5)  When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"

 

(Exodus 14:6)  So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him,

 

(Exodus 14:7)  and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.

 

(Exodus 14:8)  And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly.

 

(Exodus 14:9)  The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

 

(Exodus 14:10)  When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD.

 

(Exodus 14:11)  They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?

 

(Exodus 14:12)  Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."

 

(Exodus 14:13)  And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

 

(Exodus 14:14)  The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

 

(Exodus 14:15)  The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.

 

(Exodus 14:16)  Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.

 

(Exodus 14:17)  And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.

 

(Exodus 14:18)  And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."

 

(Exodus 14:19)  Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them,

 

(Exodus 14:20)  coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.

 

(Exodus 14:21)  Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

 

(Exodus 14:22)  And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

 

(Exodus 14:23)  The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

 

(Exodus 14:24)  And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic,

 

(Exodus 14:25)  clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians."

 

(Exodus 14:26)  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen."

 

(Exodus 14:27)  So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea.

 

(Exodus 14:28)  The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained.

 

(Exodus 14:29)  But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

 

(Exodus 14:30)  Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

 

(Exodus 14:31)  Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

 

 

Numbers chapter 16 illustrates the Korah rebellion and its consequences and also the people murmuring against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of killing Korah and his people and what happens to them with the plague

(Numbers 16:1)  Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men.

 

(Numbers 16:2)  And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men.

 

(Numbers 16:3)  They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"

 

(Numbers 16:4)  When Moses heard it, he fell on his face,

 

(Numbers 16:5)  and he said to Korah and all his company, "In the morning the LORD will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him.

 

(Numbers 16:6)  Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company;

 

(Numbers 16:7)  put fire in them and put incense on them before the LORD tomorrow, and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!"

 

(Numbers 16:8)  And Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi:

 

(Numbers 16:9)  is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them,

 

(Numbers 16:10)  and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also?

 

(Numbers 16:11)  Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?"

 

(Numbers 16:12)  And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they said, "We will not come up.

 

(Numbers 16:13)  Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us?

 

(Numbers 16:14)  Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up."

 

(Numbers 16:15)  And Moses was very angry and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them."

 

(Numbers 16:16)  And Moses said to Korah, "Be present, you and all your company, before the LORD, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow.

 

(Numbers 16:17)  And let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it, and every one of you bring before the LORD his censer, 250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer."

 

(Numbers 16:18)  So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.

 

(Numbers 16:19)  Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation.

 

(Numbers 16:20)  And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

 

(Numbers 16:21)  "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."

 

(Numbers 16:22)  And they fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?"

 

(Numbers 16:23)  And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

 

(Numbers 16:24)  "Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."

 

(Numbers 16:25)  Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.

 

(Numbers 16:26)  And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins."

 

(Numbers 16:27)  So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.

 

(Numbers 16:28)  And Moses said, "Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord.

 

(Numbers 16:29)  If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me.

 

(Numbers 16:30)  But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD."

 

(Numbers 16:31)  And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart.

 

(Numbers 16:32)  And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.

 

(Numbers 16:33)  So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

 

(Numbers 16:34)  And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up!"

 

(Numbers 16:35)  And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.

 

(Numbers 16:36)  Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

 

(Numbers 16:37)  "Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy.

 

(Numbers 16:38)  As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the LORD, and they became holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel."

 

(Numbers 16:39)  So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar,

 

(Numbers 16:40)  to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his company--as the LORD said to him through Moses.

 

(Numbers 16:41)  But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the LORD."

 

(Numbers 16:42)  And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

 

(Numbers 16:43)  And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting,

 

(Numbers 16:44)  and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

 

(Numbers 16:45)  "Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces.

 

(Numbers 16:46)  And Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD; the plague has begun."

 

(Numbers 16:47)  So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.

 

(Numbers 16:48)  And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.

 

(Numbers 16:49)  Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died in the affair of Korah.

 

(Numbers 16:50)  And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.

 

Here in Joshua chapter 7 the bad decision that was made was to succumb to greed and take some of the spoil that was supposed to be destroyed and the consequences were defeat for Israel at the first attempt to take Ai, and then Achan and his family were executed once this deed was found out.

(Joshua 7:1)  But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.

 

(Joshua 7:2)  Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." And the men went up and spied out Ai.

 

(Joshua 7:3)  And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few."

 

(Joshua 7:4)  So about 3,000 men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai,

 

(Joshua 7:5)  and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

 

(Joshua 7:6)  Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.

 

(Joshua 7:7)  And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!

 

(Joshua 7:8)  O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!

 

(Joshua 7:9)  For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?"

 

(Joshua 7:10)  The LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?

 

(Joshua 7:11)  Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.

 

(Joshua 7:12)  Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.

 

(Joshua 7:13)  Get up! Consecrate the people and say, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD, God of Israel, "There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you."

 

(Joshua 7:14)  In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the LORD takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the LORD takes shall come near by households. And the household that the LORD takes shall come near man by man.

 

(Joshua 7:15)  And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.'"

 

(Joshua 7:16)  So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken.

 

(Joshua 7:17)  And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken.

 

(Joshua 7:18)  And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

 

(Joshua 7:19)  Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."

 

(Joshua 7:20)  And Achan answered Joshua, "Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did:

 

(Joshua 7:21)  when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath."

 

(Joshua 7:22)  So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath.

 

(Joshua 7:23)  And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the LORD.

 

(Joshua7:24)  And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor.

 

(Joshua 7:25)  And Joshua said, "Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today." And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.

 

(Joshua 7:26)  And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.

 

In 2 Kings chapter 1 Ahaziah decides to send after an idol to see if he would recover from his fall, and then men, sent to arrest Elijah are consumed by fire- and Ahaziah ends up dying as prophesied because he did not seek the Lord

(2 Kings 1:1)  After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.

 

(2 Kings 1:2)  Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, "Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness."

 

(2 Kings 1:3)  But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?

 

(2 Kings 1:4)  Now therefore thus says the LORD, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.'" So Elijah went.

 

(2 Kings 1:5)  The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, "Why have you returned?"

 

(2 Kings 1:6)  And they said to him, "There came a man to meet us, and said to us, 'Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the LORD, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.'"

 

(2 Kings 1:7)  He said to them, "What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?"

 

(2 Kings 1:8)  They answered him, "He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."

 

(2 Kings 1:9)  Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, "O man of God, the king says, 'Come down.'"

 

(2 Kings 1:10)  But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

 

(2 Kings 1:11)  Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, "O man of God, this is the king's order, 'Come down quickly!'"

 

(2 Kings 1:12)  But Elijah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

 

(2 Kings 1:13)  Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, "O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight.

 

(2 Kings 1:14)  Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties, but now let my life be precious in your sight."

 

(2 Kings 1:15)  Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So he arose and went down with him to the king

 

(2 Kings 1:16)  and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron--is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?--therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.'"

 

(2 Kings 1:17)  So he died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son.

 

(2 Kings 1:18)  Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

 

I am including Daniel chapter 4 to indicate what can happen when one falls into pride as a decision yet this chapter also shows God’s mercy when someone repents of the wrong things- as illustrated by what happens to Nebuchadnezzar here

(Daniel 4:1)  King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you!

 

(Daniel 4:2)  It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

 

(Daniel 4:3)  How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

 

(Daniel 4:4)  I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.

 

(Daniel 4:5)  I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.

 

(Daniel 4:6)  So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

 

(Daniel 4:7)  Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.

 

(Daniel 4:8)  At last Daniel came in before me--he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods--and I told him the dream, saying,

 

(Daniel 4:9)  "O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.

 

(Daniel 4:10)  The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.

 

(Daniel 4:11)  The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.

 

(Daniel 4:12)  Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

 

(Daniel 4:13)  "I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.

 

(Daniel 4:14)  He proclaimed aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.

 

(Daniel 4:15)  But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.

 

(Daniel 4:16)  Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him.

 

(Daniel 4:17)  The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.'

 

(Daniel 4:18)  This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

 

(Daniel 4:19)  Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

 

(Daniel 4:20)  The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,

 

(Daniel 4:21)  whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived--

 

(Daniel 4:22)  it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.

 

(Daniel 4:23)  And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,'

 

(Daniel 4:24)  this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,

 

(Daniel 4:25)  that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.

 

(Daniel 4:26)  And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.

 

(Daniel 4:27)  Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

 

(Daniel 4:28)  All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

 

(Daniel 4:29)  At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,

 

(Daniel 4:30)  and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?"

 

(Daniel 4:31)  While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,

 

(Daniel 4:32)  and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."

 

(Daniel 4:33)  Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

 

(Daniel 4:34)  At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

 

(Daniel 4:35)  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"

 

(Daniel 4:36)  At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.

 

(Daniel 4:37)  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

 

In Daniel chapter 6 the satraps and other leaders under Darius scheme and plot against Daniel and then concoct a scheme to have him thrown into the lion’s den (to rid themselves of him out of envy) but their plan backfires as they themselves are thrown in to the den and devoured by the lions while God rescues Daniel

(Daniel 6:1)  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom;

 

(Daniel 6:2)  and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.

 

(Daniel 6:3)  Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

 

(Daniel 6:4)  Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.

 

(Daniel 6:5)  Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God."

 

(Daniel 6:6)  Then these presidents and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever!

 

(Daniel 6:7)  All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

 

(Daniel 6:8)  Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked."

 

(Daniel 6:9)  Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.

 

(Daniel 6:10)  When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

 

(Daniel 6:11)  Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.

 

(Daniel 6:12)  Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, "O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."

 

(Daniel 6:13)  Then they answered and said before the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

 

(Daniel 6:14)  Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.

 

(Daniel 6:15)  Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed."

 

(Daniel 6:16)  Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!"

 

(Daniel 6:17)  And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

 

(Daniel 6:18)  Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

 

(Daniel 6:19)  Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions.

 

(Daniel 6:20)  As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

 

(Daniel 6:21)  Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!

 

(Daniel 6:22)  My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."

 

(Daniel 6:23)  Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

 

(Daniel 6:24)  And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions--they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

 

(Daniel 6:25)  Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you.

 

(Daniel 6:26)  I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.

 

(Daniel 6:27)  He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions."

 

(Daniel 6:28)  So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

 

The eighth and final illustration of bad decisions in this study is that of Herod who persecuted Christians and also would not give God the glory but he was struck by an angel and then hit with worm and died as a consequence.

(Acts 12:1)  About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.

 

(Acts 12:2)  He killed James the brother of John with the sword,

 

(Acts 12:3)  and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

 

(Acts 12:4)  And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

 

(Acts 12:5)  So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

 

(Acts 12:6)  Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

 

(Acts 12:7)  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.

 

(Acts 12:8)  And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."

 

(Acts 12:9)  And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

 

(Acts 12:10)  When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.

 

(Acts 12:11)  When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

 

(Acts 12:12)  When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

 

(Acts 12:13)  And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.

 

(Acts 12:14)  Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.

 

(Acts 12:15)  They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, "It is his angel!"

 

(Acts 12:16)  But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.

 

(Acts 12:17)  But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.

 

(Acts 12:18)  Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

 

(Acts 12:19)  And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

 

(Acts 12:20)  Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.

 

(Acts 12:21)  On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.

 

(Acts 12:22)  And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"

 

(Acts 12:23)  Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

 

(Acts 12:24)  But the word of God increased and multiplied.

 

(Acts 12:25)  And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

 

Now as another scripture teaching I am also including Romans chapter 3 which states that all have made bad decisions and sinned and yet also says how Jesus came to save and rescue us from the bad decisions and forgive us and give us eternal life.

(Romans 3:1)  What then is the superiority of the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?

 

(Romans3:2)  Much in every way! First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

 

(Romans 3:3)  For what if some did not believe? Surely their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God?

 

(Romans 3:4)  Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar, just as it is written: "That You may be justified in Your words, and You may overcome when You are judged."

 

(Romans 3:5)  But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Surely God, the One inflicting wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I speak as a man.)

 

(Romans 3:6)  Certainly not! For otherwise how shall God judge the world?

 

(Romans 3:7)  For if by my lie the truth of God has abounded to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

 

(Romans 3:8)  And why not say, "Let us do evil so that good may come"?--just as we are slandered, and just as some affirm that we say. The judgment of whom is just.

 

(Romans 3:9)  What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

 

(Romans 3:10)  Just as it is written: "There is none righteous, no not one,

 

(Romans 3:11)  There is none who understands; there is none who seeks God.

 

(Romans 3:12)  All have turned aside; together they became unprofitable; there is not one doing kindness, there is not so much as one."

 

(Romans 3:13)  "Their throat is an opened grave; with their tongues they deceived"; " the poison of asps is under their lips";

 

(Romans 3:14)  "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

 

(Romans 3:15)  Their feet are swift to shed blood;

 

(Romans 3:16)  Ruin and misery are in their ways;

 

(Romans 3:17)  And the way of peace they did not know.

 

(Romans 3:18)  There is no fear of God before their eyes."

 

(Romans 3:19)  Now we know that as many things as the law says, it speaks to those under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

 

(Romans 3:20)  Therefore by works of the law no flesh shall be justified in His sight, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

 

(Romans 3:21)  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law has been revealed, being witnessed to by the Law and the Prophets,

 

(Romans 3:22)  even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and upon all those that believe. For there is no distinction;

 

(Romans 3:23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 

(Romans 3:24)  being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

 

(Romans 3:25)  whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness through the passing over of the sins having previously occurred, in the forbearance of God,

 

(Romans 3:26)  for a demonstration of His righteousness in the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

 

(Romans 3:27)  Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. Through what law? Of works? No, but through the law of faith.

 

(Romans 3:28)  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

 

(Romans 3:29)  Or is He the God of the Jews only? But is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, also of Gentiles,

 

(Romans 3:30)  since there is one God who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.

 

(Romans 3:31)  Therefore do we nullify the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

 

Romans chapter 5 explains at just the right time Jesus died for the ungodly in the world and that while we were still yet sinners Jesus did indeed die for us bringing redemption of our sins and as a result, salvation

(Romans 5:1)  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

(Romans 5:2)  through whom also we have had access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 

(Romans 5:3)  And not only that, but we also rejoice in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces endurance;

 

(Romans 5:4)  and endurance, character; and character, hope.

 

(Romans 5:5)  And hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

(Romans 5:6)  For while we were still weak, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

 

(Romans 5:7)  For scarcely on behalf of a righteous man will anyone die; yet on behalf of the good, perhaps someone might even dare to die.

 

(Romans 5:8)  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

(Romans 5:9)  Much more then, having been justified now by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

 

(Romans 5:10)  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

 

(Romans 5:11)  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom now we received the reconciliation.

 

(Romans 5:12)  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death passed to all men, because all sinned--

 

(Romans 5:13)  (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

 

(Romans 5:14)  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

 

(Romans 5:15)  But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the offense of one man many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to the many.

 

(Romans 5:16)  And the gift is not as by one having sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift from many offenses resulted in justification.

 

(Romans 5:17)  For if by the offense of the one man death reigned through the one man, much more those receiving the abundance of the grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

 

(Romans 5:18)  Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

 

(Romans 5:19)  For through the disobedience of the one man the many were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the One many shall be constituted righteous.

 

(Romans 5:20)  But the law came in alongside, so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace superabounded,

 

(Romans 5:21)  so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Yes Jesus is our one hope against bad decisions and is our key to eternal life. He willingly gave His life for us so that we can live eternally with Him and His Father in Heaven. He did it out of love so that we can be forgiven of all of our bad decisions and sin that we have committed which we will be when we repent of our foolishness. I myself repent constantly most every day and am so thankful for God’s mercy and grace. God wants a relationship with us and that is the big reason Jesus came and died on the cross for us. There is nothing that can compare with a relationship with God at all. I am including a prayer which will invite Jesus in your heart and begin this wonderful relationship to which nothing can compare. Please pray the following prayer with me

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

 

God bless you and yours