Accepting God’s Rules

July 5, 2009

Background Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:1 – 27
Lesson Passage: Deuteronomy 5:1 – 9a, 11 – 13, 16 – 21

Do we truly think about phrases such as “God, who is the head of my life…” and “my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…” when we say them or hear others use them? These phrases indicate a personal relationship with God that is ideal but not always desired or sought after by many professing Christians. What do I mean by “not always desired or sought after…”? Do all professing Christians truly want to turn their lives over to be managed by another? Surely we know many church members that refuse to go to auxiliary meetings or rehearsals because someone told them that their attendance was required. The fact is I know many professing Christians who absolutely refuse to allow anyone to give them directions. Some of them will volunteer to do anything yet will not do one thing that someone else asks of them. We live in a society that functions on rules and regulations but many citizens detest the very notion that someone would dare try to tell them what to do. This same attitude that is found in society also finds its way into local church congregations. We readily accept Jesus as our savior and, in fact, enjoy hearing the story of how he died out on Calvary to save us from our sins. Do we readily turn our lives over to him and allow him to be Lord or ruler over our “personal” affairs? We profess that we love Jesus but Jesus said if we love him then we would keep his commandments—or, in other words, allow him to be Lord over us. This is not suggesting ethical rules such as the Ten Commandments but practical instructions that we have been taught from the bible since we were children. We were taught to obey them that have the rule over us for they watch for our souls. We were taught to pray for governments because they have been ordained by God. We were taught to pray for our enemy and to give to those that are in need. We were taught to submit ourselves one to another in the fear of God. We are not ignorant of what God expects of us. We just don’t like to do it at all times. So, do we truly think about phrases such as “God, who is the head of my life…” and “my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…” when we say them or hear others use them? That’s good religious talk but many, if not most, of us have not arrived at the point that our talk lines up with our walk or lifestyle. The older I get the more I see new meaning in the biblical doctrine that we, Christians, must die daily to ourselves. We daily mortify self to allow the Spirit of Christ to have larger rule in us. This is part of the sanctification process. This process is effective in us when we allow God’s rules to direct our path. Then, Jesus is truly our Lord and God is the head of our lives.

Our lesson today revolves around part of God’s instructions to Israel prior to allowing them to enter into the Promise Land. These instructions provided the ethical and moral foundation that Israel was expected to accept and obey. These are not new instructions but those they had received from God about forty years earlier. Here, Moses is reminding them of when and how they received those rules. He is also providing some explanation as to the reason and importance of specific rules. Israel was reminded that God made them a special group when he delivered those laws to them since no other nation had ever received such direct instructions from God. Now, all that remained was for Israel to accept God’s rules.

Robert C. Hudson
June 11, 2009

Finding Protection

June 28, 2009

Background Scripture: Exodus 13:17 – 14:30
Lesson Passage: Exodus 14:15 – 25, 30a

The topic of our lesson today is Finding Protection. Put another way, the lesson is about trusting God for protection. God’s divine protection had been occurring all along as the Hebrews were spared many times the plagues that wreaked havoc on the Egyptians. After they were run out of the land of Egypt, God’s protection continued in that he provided a route for them that would prevent them from losing heart before they had grown to truly trust him. God led them the long way from Goshen to Canaan to avoid confrontation with the warrior nations along the Mediterranean coast. To further boaster their confidence, God provided a visible presence for them day and night. God provided a cloud to guide them in the day and a pillar of fire to guide them at night and to provide light so that they could travel both night and day. At the same time that God was leading them, he was also setting a trap for Pharaoh’s military which was pursuing them. God allowed Israel to witness the Egyptian military pursuing them. He moved his visible presence from the front of their procession to the rear so that he would be a physical barrier between the Egyptians and Israel. Israel was given light at night but the Egyptians were cast in darkness.

In spite of these visible signs of God’s protection and presence, Israel saw two choices: serve the Egyptians or die. Israel saw the desert as sure death for them at the hands of the Egyptians. God had another option for them—he would do the fighting for them. With the Red Sea as a barrier on one side and Egyptians on the other, Israel saw their situation as hopeless and that their very lives were in danger. Their danger was God’s opportunity. God again used Moses as his divinely appointed representative to encourage the people and lift his rod out over the Red Sea. God sent a wind that blew during the night and created a dry path through the midst of the sea. What was a barrier had become a way out. Although Israel was not always perceptive of God’s gracious help, ironically, the Egyptians discerned that God was fighting for Israel. This created fear in the Egyptians and they tried to run away but God was not going to allow them to escape. Israel’s way out had become the Egyptians trap. After Israel had crossed through the midst of the Red Sea on dry ground, God caused the sea to close up again and overflow the Egyptians and their chariots. In spite of their fear and lack of faith, God had rescued Israel again. This miracle gave them courage for the moment and they could enjoy the protection that God had given on that day and rehearse it in the hearing of their children forever.


Robert C. Hudson
June 4, 2009