Proverbs 15:5

“A [flippant, arrogant] fool rejects his father’s instruction and correction, But he who [is willing to learn and] regards and keeps in mind a reprimand acquires good sense.” AMP‬‬

One of the major events of Jewish history in the Bible was the Babylonian invasion of Judah which started about 598 BC and ended with Jerusalem falling in 586 BC. God allowed this to happen because of the flagrant vile lifestyle of sin that prevailed not only in its leadership, but in the people overall. His “chosen” people ended up becoming as sinful as the surrounding nations; child sacrifices, temple prostitution and a total disregard for God was the way of life. As a result, countless thousands were killed and others exiled to Babylon for 70 years.

But this invasion did not come as a surprise. In His mercy, God sent several prophets warning Judah to repent and turn back to Him. Prophets like Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakuk and others were sent within about 50 years prior to the invasion warning Judah what was to come. But they refused to listen and refused to believe.

Now, how did Judah get into that position? The Assyrian invasion of the northern kingdom had occurred just 130 years prior. The mixed race of Jews and Assyrian people were living in Samaria just a few miles from Jerusalem. The temple of God was in their midst. There were reminders of the consequences of sin all around. How did they miss it?

They missed it the same way we miss it…a refusal to learn the lessons of previous “corrections ” and to believe the warning signs right in front of us. At our core we have a sinful nature. We strive to be our own god and focus on what pleases us. We have the ability to rationalize away that which opposes what we want. We have the ability not only to bend the truth, but tie it up in knots and throw it away. When our pride rises, we take an aggressive stance against godly wisdom, just like the Jewish kings did against the prophets sent by God (ignored, imprisoned, killed or banished from the kingdom).

Are there warnings you have been ignoring? Have you twisted truth to the point you can barely recognize it? Don’t set yourself up for an “invasion” of unpleasant circumstances. A refusal to believe can be costly.

Humble yourself before God, perform an honest assessment of your actions, thoughts and motives. And finally, believe and obey His Word. Taking these steps may save you years of heartache in the future. A refusal to believe can be costly.