Monday, December 2, 2013

Lessons From the Desert: Obedience

This month at Pasture Living, I'm sharing what I learned during my Israel trip and why I think this series is very relevant to healthy living. I believe being physically healthy is important, but being mentally, psychologically, and spiritually healthy is also extremely important for a fulfilling and joyful life. If you missed any of this series, click here.

Advent Day 2

Obedience


Passage Reading: Exodus 17:6 (versus Numbers 20:8)

There were a few occasions when God asked Moses to hit the rock to get water for the Israelites while they were in the desert. Our Pastor explained that getting water out of the rock bu hitting is a skill that can be learned and is still practiced by the bedouins (those living in the desert). In this occurrence, God wanted His people to know that it was God who provided the water, not Moses and so God asked Moses to speak to the rock, not strike, but Moses disobeyed, and it costed him the inability to enter the promised land. There are consequences tagged to disobedience, a heavy price we have to pay. 

Imagine if there is no traffic light in the middle of a road intersection. Do you think it will be safer or more dangerous? Following the traffic sign makes for orderliness, without them, accidents will happen. We view the law as a negative thing, in reality, they are there to direct us, not to make our lives more difficult. And when we live in obedience to the Law, our lives are directed in the right path and we can arrive in our "destination" correctly and safely.


“So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord you God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” – Deuteronomy 5:32-33


“If you love me, you will keep (obey) my commandments.” - John 14:15

In the world of healthy living, there are too many studies that say this and that, and many debates what is right and wrong. Maybe one is right and one is wrong. Maybe both are right and maybe both are wrong. But the Word of God is always right and unchanging and we can take comfort that when we obey and make decisions based on the Bible, we are on the right path.


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