God's Order; Our Obedience

“These are the laws you are to set before them…”

Exodus 21:1 (NIV)

In this seemingly chaotic and mayhem-filled world it is refreshing to recognize that God documented a path of integrity for His believers to follow. In Scripture, the Lord has set a spiritual foundation upon which our lives can, and should, be firmly supported. God’s Word, therefore, is a text complete with inspiration and instruction. Education and encouragement. Hope and help.

There is great comfort in knowing that God is a God of order. An implicit desire within the Lord’s governance is for humanity to obediently submit to His decrees. Hearts that long to honor God’s will and reflect His holy nature will diligently observe His regulations. It a natural outpouring of faith-based living. Although God’s rules appear complex and hard to practice, at times, we find that that they are premised on love, honesty, humility, faithfulness, and kindness. If mankind would sincerely employ the godly tenets, which guide moral behavior, then the offenses toward one another, and God, would all but disappear.

God was very precise with the sacraments, worship offerings, and sacrificial environment in the book of Exodus, as well as other Old Testament accounts. He went into extensive specificity with the tabernacle, the altar, the chest of testimony, and the high priestly attire. God reveals Himself at His discretionary choosing, but when He does reveal Himself rest assured His message is of utmost importance. We must not read such verses in Exodus with a “these phrases and passages are outdated and irrelevant mentality”, but with a spiritual hunger to appreciate the great care God put into establishing a relationship with humanity, a relationship founded on our obedience.

Through God’s detailed, discipline-oriented teaching He frames the conduct and character He desires His followers to display. God’s believers should exhibit a noticeable demeanor that stands apart from the worldly example. To those distant from God most biblical statements seem restrictive and binding. They don’t make sense because the yearning to demonstrate a virtuous character is a foreign one. Those who claim God is obscure or silent on assorted life matters need to analyze and absorb the words in Scripture.     

Do God’s ways sometimes appear unusual or unconventional? Yes. But behind every request of God is a holy perspective, a perspective that sees beyond the momentary and engages the eternal. As tempted as we may be to question or dismiss God because of our naturally judgmental mindset, to reject God’s expressed call is akin to rejecting God Himself. We must daily choose who (or Who) we will serve. For our sake, as well as that of our family’s, let us serve the Lord with wholehearted devotion and joy. Let us embrace the rich, rewarding structure of God’s Word. May His order be coupled to our obedience.