In His revealed word, God gives principles for living, and then establishes the validity of the principles by the examples of men and women who had lived them out.

This is especially true of the principle stated in Hebrews 2:2, "Since the message spoken by angels was firm, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment" (translation from Greek). The "message" here was the Law, which bound the Israelites who lived under it. But the principle stated here is still valid today, even though we no longer live under the Law. Every transgression of God's authority will be justly punished.

God's demand for obedience is seen through numerous real-life situations in the pages of Scripture. What preacher has not used these examples which illustrate the need to obey God's commands:

  • Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10) offered "strange fire" on the altar and were immediately consumed by fire from God.
  • The man gathering sticks on the Sabbath (Numbers 15) was stoned outside the camp for his disobedience.
  • Moses was denied the opportunity to take the Israelites into Canaan because he did not speak to the rock as God had said (Numbers 20).
  • Saul failed to totally annihilate the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15) and therefore lost his kingdom.
  • Uzzah was struck dead (2 Samuel 6) when he touched the ark of God while it was being moved.

These and many other possible examples establish the undeniable fact that God expects His commands to be obeyed, and when they are not obeyed, He is obligated to punish the disobedience.

Further, these examples teach us at least four lessons about our obligation to conform to God's authority. First, God must be treated with reverence, as one who is holy. Any effort to make light of what God has commanded, or to come before God flippantly (as Nadab and Abihu) will be punished. As Uzzah's fate shows, God will not tolerate wrong behavior toward that which is holy.

Second, man must not think he can substitute his own ideas in place of what God has commanded. Saul thought it would be good for the people to sacrifice to God from the spoils of battle. But Samuel told him, "To obey is better than to sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22). Here, as often in today's world, sacrifice was only an excuse for selfishness.

Third, no one is allowed to defiantly transgress God's commands, for whatever reason. The narrative of the man picking up sticks on the Sabbath immediately follows God's statement in Numbers 15:30, "But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously...reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people." It is no mere coincidence that this account follows immediately after this statement. God is trying to tell us something about our attitude toward authority.

Fourth, there will be times when man simply needs to believe that God "means what He says." Even when we do not totally understand the reason for God's laws, we are not free to disregard them, except under penalty of punishment. Moses' example shows this clearly. God says to him, "ye believed me not" (Numbers 20:12). We chafe a little when we read this, because we feel that God might have been unfair to Moses. But God is God, and man exists only to "trust and obey."

These are lessons greatly needed in the church today. We are afflicted by two equally wrong extremes: suffocating legalism, which imposes additional, extra-biblical standards on all, and freefloating liberalism, which holds to no standards except one's own preference. Neither of these extremes is right. Both are unscriptural and displeasing to God. But have done harm to the body of Christ in our time. Both must be put away in favor of a more scriptural attitude toward authority.

Peter speaks to this matter in 2 Peter 2:4-10. He emphasizes God's insistence on obedience. He punished even the angels when they sinned. He sent a flood upon the ungodly of the ancient world. He burned Sodom and Gomorrah as an example and a warning. Then Peter concludes by saying, "the Lord knoweth how...to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities" (2 Peter 2:9-10). Again, authority is the key. When man transgresses God's authority, he is punished.

A final note: God's unrelenting justice does not nullify His grace. Both co-exist in God's perfect administration of the universe. Punishment does not nullify grace, and grace does not cancel God's demands for our obedience. Our respect for God's revealed, authoritative Word will help us to realize the certainty of a just punishment if we transgress that authority.

Gospel Advocate July 18, 1985