‘The question is not, ‘What am I not allowed to do?’ but ‘What has God asked of me?’ Rebellion begins when the heart fixates on the one thing withheld and neglects the many things commanded. Eve turned from a garden full of instruction to a single restriction. Faithfulness fixes its eyes on what God has said to do, not on what He has said no to’.
– The BUD Family Africa
Rebellion Begins With The One Thing Withheld
Imagine you just came back from the supermarket and you bought a lot of things for your daughter. You come in and start giving them to her. Toys, books, snacks, all sorts of things. You can see she’s excited at first, really happy.
But after a while, you notice something is off. That excitement just drops.
So you look at her closely and follow where her eyes are going. She’s pointing toward the fridge. There’s a small basket you kept there. Inside it is just one toy.
You ask, “What about it?”
She says, “Give it to me.”
You say, “No, that one is not for you.”
Immediately, “Why? Why can’t I have it?”
You try to explain, “I’ve given you so many things. Go and play with those. That one is for your brother.”
But she refuses. “No. I don’t want any other thing. I want that one.”
And you’re standing there wondering, can’t you see everything I just gave you?
But she doesn’t care anymore. She starts to cry. Then she gets upset. Then she begins to scatter the very things you gave her.
That’s how the whole story of mankind began.
So many trees. So much beauty. So much provision. Clear instruction. Real blessing.
But the question became, “Why not this one? What is God keeping? What is He withholding from me?”
And from there, everything spiraled. One question turned into many. One act turned into many. Tantrums turned into rebellion.
And like a bewildered mother watching her child, God looked on.
What a heart turned dark!
Ability: The Cover for Rebellion
God has given women so much.
The Scriptures say, “…but the woman is the glory of the man.” (1 Corinthians 11:7)
She is not an afterthought. She is a deliberate design. A crown. A help fit, corresponding, necessary. The Scriptures say, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” (Genesis 2:18)
She is the one through whom life is carried and brought forth. The Scriptures say, “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” (1 Timothy 2:15)
Without her, nothing multiplies. Seeds remain seeds. Potential remains buried.
God entrusted women with something weighty. To carry life, to nurture it, and to bring it into the earth.
And beyond the physical, there is also the spiritual.
A woman can serve God deeply. She can grow in the Lord. She can carry grace, strength, wisdom, and spiritual substance.
The Scriptures say older women are to be “teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women…” (Titus 2:3–5). There is a place of ministry. A place of impact. A place of depth.
There is no shortage in what God has made available to a woman who presses into Him.
So the issue has never been lack.
The issue is that, alongside all this, God also gave boundaries.
And just like that child, many hearts are not at rest with what has been given. They are drawn to what has been withheld.
Take something as simple as head covering.
The Scriptures speak about it clearly. “Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head… For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.” (1 Corinthians 11:5,10)
Yet over time, explanations began to come.
“It is not physical. Her husband is the covering.”
“It is cultural. It was written to the Corinthians.”
“It is no longer necessary.”
And gradually, something that was once straightforward, something the Scriptures call power, became something people explained away!
What about order in the church?
The Scriptures are clear. “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak…” (1 Corinthians 14:34)
And again, “I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man…” (1 Timothy 2:12)
This is where the resistance often rises.
Many women cannot understand this scripture because why not? I’ve got the ability!
Why would ‘Paul‘ say such a thing? What a chauvinist!
And yes, there are women who can speak powerfully, teach clearly, even more than some men.
But sis, it has never been about ability!!
The question is: what has God said?
Yet the heart says,
“I can do it.”
“I am gifted.”
“What is wrong with it?”
And without realizing it, the same pattern begins.
Everything else God has given becomes small, ordinary, without glory. The focus shifts to the one place He said no.
When the ark of God was being moved, the Scriptures say it was placed on a cart. “They set the ark of God upon a new cart…” (2 Samuel 6:3)
It looked efficient. It looked reasonable. It looked modern. But it was not what God had said. The instruction had already been given that the ark should be carried (Numbers 4:15).
And when it began to fall, Uzzah stretched out his hand to steady it. “Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God… and God smote him there for his error.” (2 Samuel 6:6–7)
Why?
Because with God, it is not first about what seems right. It is about what He has said.
You can have strength. You can have ability. You can even have good intentions. But if it is outside what God has commanded, it is out of place.
It is like a staff deciding to sign what belongs to the managing director. The hand is there. The pen is there. The ability is there. But the authority is not.
And everyone understands that- and waits for the Managing Director!
Yet when it comes to God, the question keeps rising.
“Why can’t I?”
That question has always been the doorway of rebellion.
The Scriptures say, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
And again, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
Until the heart learns to rest, not in what it wants, but in what God has said, it will keep reaching for what was never assigned to it.
And in doing so, it will slowly lose the joy, the beauty, and the authority that were already given to it. For the strength of a woman is not found in crossing the lines God drew, but in walking faithfully within them. That is where her power is. That is where her honor is. That is where her peace is found.
Also Read: Why Submission Brings Immense Spiritual Authority
Rebellion Starts With a Question
The sin of rebellion starts simple. It questions God.
From there, it moves into action. Doing what God has said not to do, or refusing to do what God has said to do. Both are the same at the root. Two sides of one coin.
You are either disobedient by what you do, or by what you refuse to do!!! In the end, they both arrive at the same place: rebellion.
And the Scriptures say, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…” (1 Samuel 15:23)
That is not a light comparison, my sister.
The Scriptures also show the weight of witchcraft and its end. “But the fearful, and unbelieving… and sorcerers… shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” (Revelation 21:8)
If rebellion is likened to sorcery/witchcraft, then it is not a small matter. God does not treat it lightly.
All through the Scriptures, those who walked in rebellion and refused to turn back did not end well. Their endings were heavy, often shameful.
Now let’s bring this home.
Many of the contentions around women today, both in the church and outside the church, are not really about what the Scriptures have said to do. The struggle is about why.
“Why must I do this?”
“Why is it this way?”
“Why can’t it be different?”
That was exactly where it began.
The serpent’s discussion with Eve was not just about the command. It was about why God should be obeyed at all.
The scenario played out like this:
SERPENT:
“Hmmm… has God really said you cannot eat from all the trees?” (Genesis 3:1)
EVE:
“Oh no, we can eat from all the trees. But this one in the middle, God said we must not eat it. If we do, we will die.” (Genesis 3:2–3)
SERPENT:
“You shall not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4)
“Do you know why God said that?”
“It is because He knows that the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Him.” (Genesis 3:5)
And right there, something shifted inside Eve.
The question was no longer about obedience. It became about why God would withhold something.
Eve began to think.
Why this tree?
Why is it in the middle?
Why would God keep something that looks good away from me?
The Scriptures say, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food… and a tree to be desired…” (Genesis 3:6)
Before that moment, it was just a tree under instruction.
After that moment, it became something desirable.
That is how rebellion works.
It begins with a question.
It lingers on a “why.”
It reshapes what God has said.
And before long, obedience begins to look unreasonable.
Then comes the fall!
Eve ate.
And man fell.
And it all began with a question.
Why Should I Obey God?
The serpent challenged Eve to ask, why should God be obeyed? But don’t we also ask ourselves that question more often than we realize?
Don’t we ask why God is important when we need to make decisions about our lives?
Don’t we look around, weigh our options, and quietly conclude whether God really matters in the equation?
Did we not all come from the first woman, Eve?
In truth, as women who have found ourselves in Christ, we may not directly challenge God’s authority over our lives in such an open manner. But the end result of our actions often reveals whether or not we have asked that question.
When we are at the point of marriage, and we grow impatient instead of waiting for God to lead us into His will, have we not indirectly asked, does God really matter in this decision?
Would God actually like come down to lead me?
‘Why should God be consulted in this?’
Everyday Choices That Reveal Our Heart
When we are in church and show reluctance to cover our heads while ministering in prayer or prophecy, have we not quietly declared that God’s instruction on the matter is not important?
When the Scriptures say that as married women we should submit to our own husbands as unto Christ in everything, yet we are irritated by that fact and resist his leadership, have we not told Christ that He is not relevant in our marriage?
When the Scriptures instruct us to be modest and not given to outward extravagance, yet we pursue the latest fashion and the most expensive things, are we not telling the Lord that we know what is best for ourselves?
When the Scriptures say we should be “keepers at home” (Titus 2:5), yet we despise the home and chase life outside it as though it were a burden, have we not quietly declared that God’s design is not good enough for us?
When the Scriptures say we should have a “meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:4), yet we celebrate loudness, dominance, ‘audacity’ and self-assertion, have we not rejected what God calls precious?
When the Scriptures say we should love our husbands and children (Titus 2:4), yet we see them as interruptions to our personal goals and comfort, have we not placed ourselves above God’s priorities?
When the Scriptures say we should be subject, even to difficult husbands (1 Peter 3:1), yet we only submit when it is convenient or when he ‘deserves it’, have we not redefined obedience on our own terms?
When the Scriptures say we should not love the world (1 John 2:15), yet our hearts are filled with its trends, its applause, and its approval, have we not quietly chosen another master?
When the Scriptures call us to a life of holiness (1 Peter 1:15–16), yet we excuse sin as personality, culture, or expression, have we not lowered God’s standard to fit our desires?
When the Scriptures say we should learn in silence with all subjection (1 Timothy 2:11), yet we resist being taught and insist on having our voice above all, even beyond all boundaries, have we not pushed against God’s order?
In more ways than we care to admit, we, like Eve, also ask God, why should I obey You?
That is the spirit of rebellion!
It is the spirit that resists anything that brings God’s instructions into expression in a woman’s life.
As it manifested in Eve and led her to disregard God’s command, so it manifests in many women today. It deceives, it persuades, and it slowly pulls the heart away from obedience.
And it often begins with a simple question:
“Why?”
The Scriptures say, “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin.” (Isaiah 30:1)
In other words, the woman who walks in rebellion does not take God’s counsel, neither does she allow Him to direct her life. The Scriptures say she adds sin to sin, because her choices are continually outside of God’s will and instructions.
Mary: A Woman Void of Rebellion
One woman in the Scriptures who broke free from the hold of a rebellious spirit was Mary. What a woman.
When the angel came to her, it was as though she was already prepared for that moment.
She received the mind of God for her life. His will. His instruction. His assignment. His purpose. His blueprint.
Mary received it, and without wrestling, without delay, she bowed low. She humbled herself before the Lord.
How did Mary come into such a posture, when even Sarah, the matriarch of faith, took time to arrive at that place in her walk with God?
At such a young age, she understood what God required of her life.
She did not ask, “Why should I obey God?”
She simply said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38)
That was her posture.
The Scriptures say, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
Mary had come to that understanding.
She knew God was not after outward offerings or religious activity. God was not looking for compensation. He was looking for a heart that would obey.
And this is where many miss it.
We often try to compensate for disobedience. After going our own way, we become more active in church, more visible in service, more generous in giving. We try to balance what we have done with what we can offer.
But there is no worthy price that can repay a rebellious heart.
The better way is to avoid rebellion altogether. To live in integrity before God and man. To love what He loves. To walk humbly with Him.
The crown of her faithfulness was simple: obedience.
Mary would rather ask, “What is Your instruction? I will obey,” than to ask, “Why have You given this instruction?”
She had said yes to God so completely that even His restrictions did not feel like losses, but like directions to be trusted.
Mary sought God concerning her life, even her marriage, and when things seemed uncertain, she did not panic. She remained at rest, knowing she was aligned with God’s will.
She had already settled it in her heart.
No matter what God required, she would not treat it as a burden, but as an opportunity to obey Him and resist the spirit of rebellion.
Where Eve paused and reasoned, Mary responded.
Where Eve questioned, Mary yielded.
Where Eve saw something to desire, Mary chose what God had said.
To Mary, it was never about what God had withheld.
It was always about what God had said ‘to do!’
The End of Rebellion: A Woman Who Simply Obeys
So, sister, this must be our stance as this month draws to a close.
It is no longer enough to have heard.
It is no longer enough to have nodded in agreement.
It is no longer enough to say, “Yes, this is true.”
Now, it must become your life.
This is the call. To know what God has said, and to embrace it fully. Not selectively. Not conveniently. Fully.
The power of a woman is not in how much ground she can take. It is in how completely she can yield to God.
This is where strength is proven.
Will you obey when it is inconvenient?
Will you submit when you do not understand?
Will you follow when it costs you something?
Will you still say yes when no one claps for you?
Because this is where it is decided.
“The question is not, ‘What am I not allowed to do?’ but ‘What has God asked of me?’ Rebellion begins when the heart fixates on the one thing withheld and neglects the many things commanded. Eve turned from a garden full of instruction to a single restriction. Faithfulness fixes its eyes on what God has said to do, not on what He has said no to.”
This is the line!
You will either be a woman who fixes her eyes on what was withheld, or a woman who builds her life on what God has spoken.
You cannot do both.
So choose.
Choose obedience.
Choose surrender.
Choose alignment.
Choose God, again and again.
Let this not end as a message.
Let it mark you.
Let it define you.
Let it be said of you, as it was said of Mary:
“Be it unto me according to Your word.” (Luke 1:38)
And in that place, you will find it.
Strength.
Covering.
Authority.
And a life that heaven can stand behind.
Susan Hunt: The Christian Wife and Mother
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