The Quiet Voice That Turns Us

Today, I want to talk about two things that often go unnoticed in our day-to-day interactions. It’s no one’s fault — it’s part of being human and a result of the pressure to survive, though it shouldn’t be that way. The first woman and man to set foot on the face of the earth walked right into this, and it changed the course of all humanity to this day.

That is one side, which you shouldn’t remain in forever, because it carries eternal consequences. The other side is to exchange your current nature for a better one — the original intent of who we were before we arrived here.

I want to talk about rebellion and manipulation — the subtle seed and the open revolt. Thank You, Father, for Your words that give life and light to us. We walk in the light of Your Word and become better people to the glory of Your name.

The scripture references are:

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” — 1 Samuel 15:23, NKJV

“For we are not, like so many, peddling the word of God for profit; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 2:17, NKJV

At first glance, manipulation and rebellion may seem worlds apart — one hides behind sweet words and cunning motives, while the other shouts its defiance from the rooftops. Yet before God, both share the same root: a heart that resists His authority.

In the Garden of Eden, the serpent (Satan) did not force Eve to rebel; he manipulated her — twisting the truth and planting seeds of doubt in her heart.

Genesis 3: 1 (NIV), “Now the serpent [Satan] was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman [Eve], “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Wow! He had the audacity and pride to question God’s authority. He fell from his elevated position in God’s realm because of pride (Isaiah 14:12–15). Now he is on a rampage to derail all mankind from following the living God. But thanks be to God, who sent the Lord Jesus to redeem mankind through His sacrifice on the cross (John 3:16), so that anyone who believes in Him and confesses that Jesus is Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:9-10) and transferred from Satan’s kingdom into God’s (Galatians 3:13). Glory be to God in the highest!

Isaiah 14:12–15 (NKJV), “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven… I will exalt my throne… I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.”
John 3:16 (NKJV), “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.”
Galatians 3:13 (NKJV), “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’).”
Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV), “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…”
Romans 10:9–10 (NKJV), “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Colossians 1:13 (NKJV), “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed [transferred] us into the kingdom of the Son of His love…”

Back to the story, Satan’s manipulation was hidden, but the result was Eve and Adam’s open rebellion to God’s authority: taking and eating what God forbade.

In our lives today, we may think rebellion only looks like blatant defiance — refusing to obey God’s Word, rejecting correction, or dismissing His commands outright. But what about the subtle manipulations we tolerate? The half-truths, the hidden motives, the ways we bend the truth to serve ourselves? And yet, we quickly admit our helplessness, saying, “It is well.”

It is not well if we keep indulging in it! Why?

God sees both the secret schemes and the loud protests. The Lord God calls us to pure hearts and honest dealings. Manipulation is rebellion in disguise — an attempt to bend others or situations instead of submitting fully to God’s will.

What is God’s will? Well, it depends on whom you believe in at the moment. There is only one God, the Creator of all! He is the One who desires to reconnect all humankind to Himself so that no one should perish after this physical life. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in Him should not perish [in eternity] but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16. Whether you believe it or not, like it or not, or are angry about it or not, there is no other way! Sadly, many only discover this truth when it is too late—on the other side of eternity. You want to know more about eternity, click here.

Guess what? The Lord Jesus came to set us free from the curse of the law and to establish us to walk in every good work He prepared for us before the foundation of the world. You must believe this in your heart and declare it boldly before the powers of darkness. It is then our duty to walk in these good works with a pure conscience and to trust the Holy Spirit to lead us — not to scheme our way through life like Jacob once did.

Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’)“Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV), “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 1:4 (NKJV), “…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”

1 Timothy 1:5 (NKJV), “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith…”

We have been called into a glorious space to be like our Father. He is holy. We are to partake of His holiness. And the way He does it is through disciplining us when we go astray or correcting us.

Hebrews 12:10 (NKJV)
“For they [earthly fathers] indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.”

Glory be to God!!!

We should ask ourselves:

Are there ways I subtly manipulate others — to protect my image, to gain favor, or to avoid consequences?
Do I harbor a rebellious spirit — resisting God’s nudges, avoiding His commands, or justifying disobedience?
Am I ever tempted to twist truth — even spiritual truth — for selfish benefit?
How can I yield more to the Holy Spirit to reveal hidden motives and cleanse my heart?

Prayer:
Father, search my heart today. Expose any manipulation or rebellion within me. Forgive me for the times I’ve twisted truth, used words deceitfully, or resisted Your authority. Help me to walk in honesty, humility, and wholehearted obedience. May my life and my words honor You, in secret and in public. In Jesus’ name, Amen.