Reasons For Obedience Roelf L. Ruffner

The book of Deuteronomy is a series of inspired sermons by the prophet Moses; final admonitions before the Israelites entered the Promised Land. For 40 years many things had happened to these people. They had been released from Egyptian bondage and crossed the Red Sea by the hand of God (Ex.19:4). At Mount Sinai God had made a covenant with them, the Law of Moses, based on their promised obedience. Almost immediately they rebelled against God. "And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves" (Ex.32:7). Because they refused to allow God to lead them in the conquest of the Promised Land, those over 20 years of age were forbidden to enter and had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. During those years they continued to rebel on occasion against the authority of Moses and Aaron. Here they stood on the banks of the Jordan River receiving a series of sermons from Jehovah on the need for obedience. "Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiff-necked people" (Deut.9:6). Do we in the 21st Century fail to understand the importance of obedience in God's sight? "And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Sam.15:22). True obedience begins when one becomes a Christian. We obey the command to believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Jn.8:24), repent of our sins as commanded (Acts 17:30), confess Jesus as God's Son (Rom.10:9-10), are baptized for remission of sins as Jesus commanded (Mk.16:16; Acts 2:38), and then we strive to remain faithful to His commandments (Rev.2:10). Many who are confronted with obeying the commandments of God reason this way: Will this make me happy? Do we depend upon God's word to provide our needs in every aspect of our lives? Jesus did. "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt 4:3-4). Yet many try foolishly to live independently of His word and so miss out on this manna. What will others think of me? What will I think of myself if I obey? They fail to heed the divine call for obedience. "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Lk.6:46). In Chapter eight of Deuteronomy Moses and the Holy Spirit give us the reasons why we must obey God. We must remember the promised reward. (verse 1) Poised on the edge of inheriting the Promised Land the Israelites still had something to do. God was about to do great things for them. Still faithfulness was required. All the commandments (Deut.8:1) included not just the Ten Commandments but all of the Law. There was to be no partial obedience but they must be careful to observe (Deut.8:1) everything God had commanded. For their obedience they were to live, and multiply. This meant that they would have better lives, not enslaved to sin and its consequences. They would have a healthier, safer life because of the beneficial effects of following the Law which was centuries ahead of the rest of the world. They would know many physical blessings by obeying God (Deut.7:13). Of greater importance was that they were to take part in the promise given to Abraham centuries before. "That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies" (Gen.22:17). Why should we obey God today? Because of the promised reward — of eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Jn.3:16). We are goal oriented creatures. God has given us the goal of Heaven. What would this life be without the promise of something much better? "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit" (Ecc.1:14). Some believe that Heaven is their right, however disobedient they are in their lives. Yet what command am I allowed to leave out of Jesus' New Covenant? Like Moses, Jesus wants His followers to obey all His commandments (Jn.14:15). Like the ancient Hebrews we must possess our reward as they possessed the land. It is not automatic. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life..." (1 Tim.6:12). So we might be tested and found worthy (vv. 2-4). Moses reminded his listeners of their 40 years in the wilderness and its purpose. Their ancestors had rebelled against God. In the wilderness wanderings, God tested or tried their children to see if they would truly obey Him. He wanted not just their bodies but their hearts. "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings" (Jer.17:10). What about you and me? It is the test of every human being to see if they will obey God. Obey His Son by being baptized for remission of sins (Mk. 16:16). Obey the word of God in spite of temptation and hardship (1Pet.1:6-7). Through various trials God taught the children of Israel to be totally dependent upon Him and His word. When they were hungry He gave them manna each morning to eat, except on the Sabbath. Miraculously, neither their clothes nor their shoes wore out during those forty years (Deut.8:4). He was teaching them total dependence. Do we depend upon Gods word to provide our needs in every aspect of our lives? Jesus did. "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt.4:3-4). Yet many try foolishly to live independently of His word and so miss out on this manna. The overall principle is that God loved the ancient Israelites so much that he chastened them (Deut.8:5). The word chasten literally means to train a child. Jehovah was preparing the children of Israel for their inheritance. Likewise, we should understand what God is doing in our lives for our good. "For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Prov.3:12). Because Our God Is Good (Verses 6-10) Moses reminds them why they should walk in his ways, and to fear him (Deut.8:6). He outlines for them the physical blessings they would enjoy in the Promised Land: The blessing of water — they had been in the desert for 40 years. The blessing of land and farms of their own — their fathers had been slaves in Egypt. The blessings of plenty — they had lived with scarcity for 40 years. The blessing of building material — stones and copper. All this was planned by God for their good. What about you and me? How may I not obey a being who has done so much for me? Not only the blessing of life itself, but material blessings and the greatest blessing of all — the gospel of Jesus Christ. "Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14:17). It Is Easy To Forget (Verses 11-17) Moses warns them not to forget what God had done for them and to become complacent in the midst of those blessings. Because of pride and self-satisfaction they would forget the source of their abundance; their liberation; and their many rebellions against God in the wilderness. "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov.16:18). We can also fail to obey God because of complacency and pride. In a country with freedom of religion and with comfortable church buildings, we can forget. We can forget what Jesus did for the Christian at Calvary. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes you are healed" (1 Pet.2:24). We must never forget the Truth Christ has given us through His word (Jn.8:31-32). Because Disobedience Will Be Punished (Verses 18-20) God had worked in their lives to prepare them for the Promised Land. Yet if they forgot God, their fate would be like the nations they were to conquer. These nations had followed other gods (Deut.8:19). Approximately one thousand years later this would happen. The Northern Kingdom of Samaria went into Assyrian exile in 721 B.C. for their idolatry and injustice (2 Kgs. 17:1-8). In 586 B.C. the Southern Kingdom of Judah went into Babylonian Captivity for the same reason — disobedience. "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy" (2 Chron.36:16). Their sin was disobedience, breaking the covenant they had made with God (Deut.8:20). Contrary to what some say, the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament. He punishes those who disobey Him (Rom.11:22). The principle applies today. Just as those who obey God will be eternally blessed, so the disobedient will suffer eternal punishment. There is a choice to make in this life. "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matt.25:46). "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:43-44). Ancient Israel was taught by Moses the reasons to obey God. Many would pay with their lives and souls for disobeying the word of God. These reasons are as valid today as they were 3,400 years ago . Have you obeyed that word and become a New Testament Christian?

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