Obedience is a funny thing.
It’s very much a biblical concept. And very much not a modern western world concept.
The modern western world rears up in repulsion at the word obedience. Too many dystopian, autocratic, mind-manipulation-brain-washing ideas associated with it for the modern western world to want to touch it with a barge pole.
And, to an extent, that’s a fair assessment.
No one in their right mind is going to ‘just obey’ a person who says that such and such must be done, when that very same person has shown themselves to be a fool.
Obedience at that point would be stupidity. Rebellion instead morphs into wisdom.
George Lucas was onto this long ago (in a galaxy) when he made the rebels the ‘good guys’.
Postmodernism always liked to blur the lines and we live in its wake. It did exactly this with morality, making truth whatever you wanted to be true. True is True. Love is Love.
Such thinking is pervasive. It’s even found in seemingly harmless children’s movies.
Just this week, I stayed back for the annual movie night at my school. “Bad Guys 2” being the selected feature (a most educative choice 😉).
I came in halfway through, so I missed some significant plot events. However, the blur between right and wrong, and who is good and who is bad was clear. And the confusion it caused the Police Commissioner was addressed.
Our society instils into us at a young age to question everything, to not just obey and to be sceptical of all authority.
But what if that authority is God?
How has the modern world blurred our concept of obedience in relation to God?
Consider the point in Israel’s history when they are poised on the edge of the Jordan about to step up and take residence in the Promised Land.
Not only was it a tumultuous time of change for the nation, but there was also a new man stepping up to the leadership plate, Joshua. God commands Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.
‘God’s command was enough for Joshua. He responded with direct obedience. He told his men, “Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess[1].”’
Joshua could obey instantly because he could be sure of Him in whom he trusted. Joshua knew that God was trustworthy and sure.
God wasn’t unsure whether the walls would come tumbling down or not. God knew they would.
God wasn’t unsure whether his people would go into the land and take possession or not. God knew they would.
God wasn’t unsure about what would happen. He already knew.
Because the decision had already been made.
“The car keys on the table are yours. The Promised Land life is yours for the taking. Make the mental shift from the wilderness to Canaan[2].”
Make the mental shift. It’s Biblical.
…And maybe read some more Max Lucado.
Yours with book in hand,
Alison
[1] Glory Days: Living your Promised Land Life Now by Max Lucado, p.35
[2] ibid., p.22
