God makes demands on his people and, often through spiritual leaders, confronts believers with their sin. He also calls to account false gods and those who exalt themselves against him. The wicked vainly challenge God by questioning his authority, seeking to resist his power and opposing his people.
God's challenge to his people
The challenge to obedience
Deuteronomy 30:15–18 See also Exodus 19:5–6; Deuteronomy 29:9; Amos 5:14–15
See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, as well as death and disaster. For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and increase, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not listen, but are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you today that you will surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.
The challenge to serve him alone
1 Kings 18:21 See also Joshua 24:14–15; Jeremiah 3:12–14
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.
The challenge to discipleship
Matthew 16:24–26 parallels Mark 8:34–36, Luke 9:23–25 See also Matthew 19:21 parallels Mark 10:21, Luke 18:22; Luke 9:57–62 parallel Matthew 8:19–22; John 21:17–19
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Challenging one another's sin
The call to rebuke and admonish
Luke 17:3; Colossians 3:16 See also Leviticus 19:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:15, Titus 3:10
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Sin challenged by spiritual leaders
Nehemiah 9:30 See also Nehemiah 9:26
You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit admonished them through Your prophets. Yet they would not listen, so You gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples.
Examples of leaders who challenged the sins of others
2 Samuel 12:1–7 The prophet Nathan challenges David; 2 Chronicles 26:18 Azariah the priest challenges Uzziah; Ezekiel 16:2 Ezekiel was called to confront Jerusalem; Hosea 2:2 Hosea challenges the unfaithfulness of Israel; Acts 5:3–4 Peter confronts Ananias; Galatians 2:11–14 Paul challenges Peter.
God's sovereignty is unchallengeable
It cannot be questioned
Isaiah 45:9–11 See also Job 9:12; Jeremiah 18:6
Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker— one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought forth?’” Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “Concerning things to come, do you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands?
His purposes cannot be thwarted
Isaiah 14:27 See also Job 42:2; Isaiah 46:10; Daniel 4:35, Daniel 5:21
The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?
No-one can stand against him
Jeremiah 49:19 See also Jeremiah 50:44; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Job 41:10
Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
God's challenge to the wicked
He challenges false gods
1 Kings 18:22–24 See also Isaiah 41:1, Isaiah 41:21–23
Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “What you say is good.”
He challenges human pride
Isaiah 23:9 See also Isaiah 13:19; Ezekiel 28:2; Daniel 5:20
The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth.
Challenges to God and his people
To God
Isaiah 14:13–14; Acts 4:26–27 See also Psalm 2:2; Genesis 3:4–5 The serpent challenges God's word; Isaiah 5:19 Isaiah's opponents challenge God to do what he has announced.Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5–6 Matthew 4:1 parallels Mark 1:12–13, Luke 4:1–2 Jesus Christ is tempted by the devil; Matthew 16:22 Jesus Christ is challenged by Peter; John 8:13 the Pharisees challenge Jesus Christ
You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’ In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.
To God's people
1 Samuel 17:8–11; Psalm 42:10 See also Psalm 42:3, Psalm 79:10; Daniel 7:25, Daniel 8:11; Joel 2:17; Ephesians 6:10–12 God's people are equipped to stand against the devil's attacks; Revelation 13:7
And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and work for us.” Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!” On hearing the words of the Philistine, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Further examples of challenges
Judges 14:4; 2 Kings 14:8 parallel 2 Chronicles 25:17
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.