Solomon and his workers carefully followed God’s instructions. As a result, the Temple work was blessed by God and completed in every detail. Here are a few examples of people in the Bible who did not carefully follow one of God’s instructions, and the resulting consequences. It is not enough to obey God halfheartedly.
God’s Instruction: Don’t eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16, 17)
Disobedience: Satan tempted them, and they ate (Genesis 3:1-6)
Result: They were banished from the Garden of Eden, pain and death were inflicted on all people (Genesis 3:24; Romans 5:12)
God’s Instruction: Fire for the sacrifice must come from the proper source (Leviticus 6:12, 13)
Disobedience: They used the wrong kind of fire for their sacrifice (Leviticus 10:1)
Result: They were struck dead (Leviticus 10:2)
God’s Instruction: “Speak ye unto the rock . . . and it shall give forth his water” (Numbers 20:8)
Disobedience: He spoke to the rock, but also struck it with his staff (Numbers 20:11)
Result: He was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12)
God’s Instruction: Completely destroy the evil Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3)
Disobedience: He spared the king and kept some of the plunder (1 Samuel 15:8, 9)
Result: God promised to end his reign (1 Samuel 15:16-26)
God’s Instruction: Only a priest can touch the sacred utensils and objects (Numbers 4:15)
Disobedience: He touched the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:6)
Result: He died instantly (2 Samuel 6:7)
God’s Instruction: Only the priests can offer incense in the Temple or Tabernacle sanctuary (Numbers 16:39, 40; 18:7)
Disobedience: He entered the Holy Place in the Temple where only priests were allowed to go (2 Chronicles 26:16-18)
Result: He became a leper (2 Chronicles 26:19)