Dealing with offenses Part 1

This discussion will be in parts, One will be toward God and the other will be towards our fellow man. In this particular article, we will be considering offences toward God.

Friends, you must realize that God can offend you. It is good that we come to terms with God and get along with him

Mat 11:6  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

The background to this verse is that John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus sent to Jesus after been arrested by Herod {Matt 14:6} to enquire from Jesus whether Jesus is truly the Messiah. Then Jesus replied the disciples of John of Baptist

Mat 11:5  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Mat 11:6  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

The last verse “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me” was revealing what was going on in John’s heart. John was expecting Jesus to use his mighty power and anointing to deliver him from the hand of Herod. If of a truth Jesus is the Messiah, He should save him.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me, the statement revealed that there is possibility for people to get offended at God. The reason for there been offended could range from challenge to another in which they are expecting God to intervene and come through for them; but alas God restrained Himself for reasons best known to Him.

John was probably expecting help from Jesus, but Jesus restrained himself but exhorted him and we that are following Him about the blessedness of not been offended.

Reasons why people can get offended in God

1. When God does not deliver like in John the Baptist . Jesus perceived that John was already getting offended. Jesus was sending a message back to John, Don’t get offended, Get rid of offences in your heart, because blessed {happy, envied, fortunate, favoured}are those who are not offended in ME
2. When wicked people prospering, and judgment is not executed on them,  people get offended (Malachi 3: 13- 15)

Mal 3:13  Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

Mal 3:14  Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

Mal 3:15  And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

The people in Malachi 3:13 -154 are offended at God because the wicked are succeeding, but the verse did not end that way

The Lord replied these people in Malachi 3:17 -18

Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Mal 3:18  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Ultimately, God is saying there is a time, an appointed time, a time to vindicate those who don’t get offended

Also in Isaiah 50: 10 – 11

Isa 50:10  Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

Isa 50:11  Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

Verse 10 admonish us not to get offended at God, though darkness surround us, but the latter verse us of the impending danger of those who get offended at God, to device their own method of deliverance.

Ultimately the word of the Lord Jesus Christ will come to pass that

And blessed is he whom whomsoever shall not be offended in Me. (