SOMETIMES PRESERVATION COMES FIRST
"The Lord commanded us to do all these statues, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at this day." Deut. 6:24, R.S.V.
Many people have lost their lives needlessly in a fire either because they did not get out of the burning building while they had the opportunity to do so or because they went back in to retrieve something. Firemen have had to forcibly drag such people from burning buildings. That was not a time for discussion. That would come later.
When God brought Israel out of Egypt, at first they were relieved at no longer being slaves in an alien land. It didn't take them long, however, before they wanted to "go back in" to retrieve their familiar lifestyle. This was no time for discussion. God dealt forcibly with them, binding them around with His statutes and ordinances. There would be time to talk about it later.
"When your son asks you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord our God has commanded you?' then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand....And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as at this day' " (Deut. 6:20-24, R.S.V.).
It is important to realize that fire-rescue methods are not the preferred way of dealing with people! Under ordinary situations we don't go around dragging people out of buildings. Nor do we bind them with commands and restrictions in order to preserve them alive. Life-threatening situations call for drastic measures. To the degree that one is removed from such situations the manner in which he is dealt with changes. There is more time for talking, for explaining, for exploring all the reasons.
God's dealings with us are no different. There are times when "fire-rescue" methods are necessary in order to ensure that we will be around later to enter into a dialog with Him. But God does not desire that we remain in a dragged-out-of-fire posture! To do so is not only unsatisfactory, it is unnecessary. Our Father has much to talk to us about!
Let's get started!
"The Lord commanded us to do all these statues, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at this day." Deut. 6:24, R.S.V.
Many people have lost their lives needlessly in a fire either because they did not get out of the burning building while they had the opportunity to do so or because they went back in to retrieve something. Firemen have had to forcibly drag such people from burning buildings. That was not a time for discussion. That would come later.
When God brought Israel out of Egypt, at first they were relieved at no longer being slaves in an alien land. It didn't take them long, however, before they wanted to "go back in" to retrieve their familiar lifestyle. This was no time for discussion. God dealt forcibly with them, binding them around with His statutes and ordinances. There would be time to talk about it later.
"When your son asks you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord our God has commanded you?' then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand....And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as at this day' " (Deut. 6:20-24, R.S.V.).
It is important to realize that fire-rescue methods are not the preferred way of dealing with people! Under ordinary situations we don't go around dragging people out of buildings. Nor do we bind them with commands and restrictions in order to preserve them alive. Life-threatening situations call for drastic measures. To the degree that one is removed from such situations the manner in which he is dealt with changes. There is more time for talking, for explaining, for exploring all the reasons.
God's dealings with us are no different. There are times when "fire-rescue" methods are necessary in order to ensure that we will be around later to enter into a dialog with Him. But God does not desire that we remain in a dragged-out-of-fire posture! To do so is not only unsatisfactory, it is unnecessary. Our Father has much to talk to us about!
Let's get started!
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