OBEDIENCE

From the six-year-old who leaves her games because her mother has called her in for supper to the business executive who pays his taxes on time, we all live in a web of relationships dependent upon obedience to authority. Like a loving parent, YHVH sets standards for our good and to protect us from evil and harm. YHVH desires obedience motivated not by fear but by love and trust. Ironically, obedience actually frees us up to enjoy life as YHVH intended, because it keeps us from becoming entangled or enslaved to those things that distract us and cause us heartache. Even though YHVH’s Commands is sometimes difficult or does not make sense from our human perspective, obedience will always bring blessing, joy and peace. Obedience is an act or instance of submitting to an authority. It is compliance with the demands or requests of someone over us. The general words for obedience in both Hebrew and Greek refer to hearing a superior authority. One Greek word that is translated obedience, includes the idea of submission to authority in the sense of arranging or ordering oneself under someone in a place of command. Another Greek word suggests obedience that is a result more of persuasion than of submission. Obedience to YHVH and human authorities is an obligation stressed in both the Old Testament and New Testament. Abraham was additionally blessed on one occasion because he obeyed YHVH in offering Isaac on the altar -- Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:5. YHVH’s continued blessing upon Israel by virtue of the Sinai Covenant was contingent upon their obeying His Voice and keeping His Covenant -- Exodus 19:5. On the verge of entering Canaan, Moses placed before Israel a blessing and a curse; the former if they listened to and obeyed the Commandments of Adonai and the latter if they did not -- Deuteronomy 11:22-28.

Deuteronomy warns that the penalty for stubborn and rebellious children is, first of all, chastisement and then death by stoning if they persistently refuse to listen -- Deuteronomy 21:18-21. One evidence that a person is a child of YHVH is continued obedience to the Commandments of YHVH -- 1 John 2:3-5. Yeshua said that those who love Him would keep His Commandments -- John 14:15. And Peter, speaking of believers, calls them obedient children -- 1 Peter 1:14. Believers are to render obedience to a variety of people: believers to Adonai -- John 14:21-24, wives to their husbands -- Ephesians 5:22-24, children to their parents -- Ephesians 6:1, citizens to their governmental officials -- Romans 13:1-7 and servants to their masters -- Ephesians 6:5. However, in spite of the strong stress on obedience in the Bible, such obedience is never made the grounds for justification before YHVH. Paul declares that salvation is a gift of YHVH that will produce good works -- Ephesians 2:8-10. So too, James speaks of works of obedience as flowing from faith -- James 2:14-26. Yeshua Himself, on the night of His betrayal, emphasized by repetition that love for Him is measured by obedience to His Commandments -- John 14:15. He underscored this by asserting that His own love for the Father was evidenced by His obeying the Father’s Commands -- John 14:31. The Bible mentions many people whose obedience to YHVH comes from their faith and love for Him -- Hebrews 11. For example, Abel believed YHVH and offered a more excellent sacrifice -- Hebrews 11:4); Noah put his faith in YHVH’s Word and prepared an ark -- Hebrews 11:7; by faith Abraham left Ur at YHVH’s direction, not knowing his destination -- Hebrews 11:8; Moses put his faith in YHVH and refused the privileges of being called Pharaoh’s son, choosing rather to identify with Israel, YHVH’s people -- Hebrews 11:24-25. The greatest example of obedience based on trust in YHVH is Yeshua Moshiach Himself. He emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond servant; He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross -- Philippians 2:7-8.

The Freedom of Obedience: In What Ways is Obedience to YHVH True Freedom?

Obedience Keeps Our Relationship With YHVH Open and Free:
[He replied, ‘I heard you, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ ADONAI Elohim asked. ‘Have you eaten the fruit I Commanded you not to eat?’] -- Genesis 3:10-11. Adam and Eve got what they wanted: an intimate knowledge of both good and evil. But they got it by doing evil and the results were disastrous. Sometimes we have the illusion that freedom is doing anything we want. But YHVH says that true freedom comes from obedience and knowing what not to do. The restrictions He gives us are for our good, helping us avoid evil. We have the freedom to walk in front of a speeding car, but we don’t need to be hit to realize it would be foolish to do so. Do not listen to satan’s temptations. You do not have to do evil to gain more experience and learn more about life.

Obeying YHVH is in Our Best Interest:
[Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between prosperity and disaster, between life and death. I have commanded you today to love ADONAI your YHVH and to keep His Commands, Laws and regulations by walking in His Ways. If you do this, you will live and become a great nation and ADONAI your YHVH will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.] -- Deuteronomy 30:15-16. YHVH has called us to keep His Commands, while reminding us that His Laws are not hidden from us or beyond our reach. Have you ever said you would obey YHVH if you knew what He wanted? Have you ever complained that obedience is too difficult for a mere human? These are unacceptable excuses. YHVH’s Laws are written in the Bible and are clearly evident in the world around us. Obeying them is reasonable, sensible and beneficial. The most difficult part of obeying YHVH’s Laws is simply deciding to start now.

Obeying YHVH, Even When We Don’t Understand, is True Freedom:
[Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of ADONAI our YHVH burst out against us. We failed to ask YHVH how to move it in the proper way.] -- 1 Chronicles 15:13. When David’s first attempt to move the Ark failed -- 13:8-14, he learned an important lesson: when YHVH gives specific instructions, it is wise to follow them precisely. This time David saw to it that the Levites carried the Ark -- Numbers 4:5-15. We may not fully understand the reasons behind YHVH’s instructions, but we do know that His wisdom is complete and His judgment infallible. The way to know YHVH’s instructions is to know His Word. But just as children do not understand the reasons for all their parents’ instructions until they are older, we may not understand all of YHVH’s reasons in this life. It is far better to obey YHVH first and then discover the reasons. We are never free to disobey YHVH just because we don’t understand.

Freedom To Obey Comes Through YHVH’s Grace:
[YHVH’s Law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, YHVH’s wonderful kindness became more abundant.] -- Romans 5:20. As a sinner, separated from YHVH, you see His Law from below, as a ladder to be climbed to get to YHVH. Perhaps you have repeatedly tried to climb it, only to fall to the ground every time you have advanced one or two rungs. Or perhaps the sheer height of the ladder seems so overwhelming that you have never even started up. In either case, what relief you should feel to see Yeshua offering with open arms to lift you above the ladder of the Law, to take you directly to YHVH! Once Yeshua lifts you into YHVH’s Presence, you are free to obey; out of love, not necessity and through YHVH’s Power, not your own. You know that if you stumble, you will not fall back to the ground. Instead, you will be caught and held in Moshiach’s loving arms.