Webster's Dictionary paints a very descriptive picture of the word rebellion.

Rebellion: Open resistance to, or defiance of any authority. To renounce or resist by force the authority of one's ruler or government. To be disobedient to authority; revolt; exhibit opposition or repugnance. Insubordination.

As descriptive and accurate as Webster's definition is, God has far stronger words still. Not only is rebellion a sin, it is as the sin of witchcraft! Mentioned along with rebellion is the sin of stubbornness.

1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry... (NKJ)

In doing a Biblical word study on rebellion or rebel (as in "to rebel against..."), we find the following.

REBEL A. Verb. marah ^4784^, "to rebel, be contentious." The meaning of "being rebellious" is limited to the Hebrew language, as the meaning of this verb in other Semitic languages differs: "to make angry" (Aramaic), "to contend with" (Syriac), and "to dispute with" (Arabic). Marah occurs some 50 times in the Old Testament. Some personal names are partly composed of the verb: Meraiah ("stubborn headed"; ) and Miriam ("stubborn headed"). Miriam as we know was the sister of Moses who rebelled against him as the spiritual authority in her life. God was greatly displeased and struck her with leprosy. Miriam had apparently forgotten that it was God who placed Moses in his office, and in her life, not man.

Marah signifies an opposition to someone motivated by pride: "If a man have a stubborn [carar] and rebellious [marah] son, which will not obey the voice of his father..." . The sense comes out more clearly in "For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, Because their speech and their actions are against the Lord, To rebel against His glorious presence."

The primary meaning of marah is "to disobey." Several passages attest to this: "...forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee" <1 Kings 13:21>; cf. <1 Kings 13:26>: "It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord...."

From what we have seen, I believe that it is safe to say that rebellion is not held in high favor in the eyes of God. Whether we look in the Word, the dictionary or even in our own lives, rebellion represents little if any good. Sadly, be it in the home, in the church, in our schools, in our workplace, or in our nation, we need not look hard to find open rebellion. This rebellion by men towards God, wives to their husbands, children to their parents, church members to their pastors, students to their teachers, employees to their employers and citizens against their government is undermining our relationship and intimacy with God.

Ironically, our society, to say nothing of our flesh and Satan, is breeding a very unhealthy sense of independence. This is all done of course in the name of personal freedom (read pride!). Satan knows a great deal about the sin of pride and rebellion; is it any wonder he attacks us so aggressively in these areas? Be aware that there is a very thin line between being independent and being rebellious. Can you clearly see that line today? You will find that rebellion as held in the light of Scripture, is handled far differently (it is sin against God!) than when it is held in the "so called" light of political discontentment, radical feminism, religious pride or selfish ambition.

You must be careful as to not fall into these fatal traps of Satan! Rebellion, pride, stubbornness, murmuring and backbiting are all wiles of the enemy set upon doing one thing and that is to harm you, your family and your church. Sometimes we are the last people to recognize these sins in our very own lives! This being the case, we cannot afford to be careless.