Lesson 5 - Does God's Word command us to obedience in all cases?

Does God's Word command us to obedience in all cases?

A Bible Study of The Scripture

The list of Scripture on this question is quite lengthy and will extend into next week.

Exodus 1:15-17 Hebrew Midwives disobey Pharaoh

The Hebrew midwives were ordered by Pharaoh, their civil magistrate to kill all male children at birth. Because of their fear of God they refused to participate in this infanticide and saved the children. To do this they had to disobey Pharaoh and this was looked upon with favor by God and they were Blessed. In fact they actually lied to Pharaoh!

Verse		King James version
15		And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
16		And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
17		But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18		And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19		And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
20		Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
21		And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

Joshua 2:3-7, Rahab directly disobeyed a command from the king of Jericho.

The king of Jericho ordered Rahab to produce the Israelite spies who had entered the city to gain intelligence for battle. Instead, she let them down via a rope so they could escape. Even though Rahab had received a clear order from the top government official, she resisted the command and was redeemed from the city's destruction when Joshua and the Israeli army destroyed it. In fact she lied to her civil government.

Verse		King James Version
3		And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
4		And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
5		And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.		And at the time of shutting the gate in the dark, they also went out together. I know not whither they are gone: pursue after them quickly, and you will overtake them.
6		But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.		But she made the men go up to the top of her house, and covered them with the stalks of flax, which was there.
7		And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gat

I Samuel 14:24-30, 43-45 The soldiers of Israel refuse to kill Jonathan after King Saul's strange command.

Jonathan was innocent not having heard his father's command to not eat anything. The people disobeyed their king to save the innocent. Interestingly the same king that God warned the people against. (Also read I Samuel 14:24-30 for full story)

Verse		King James Version
43		Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
44		And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
45		And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

Esther 1:10-12 Queen Vashti refuses to show her beauty to King Ahasuerus' drunken friends.

It is not known for sure what was expected of Vashti by the king in front of these men. She was a beautiful woman. The king wanted to show all the people her beauty. She refused. This appears to have been the honorable thing to do. She was a modest lady. Proverbs 31:30, "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." This action was used by God to pave the way for Esther.

Verse		King James Version
10		On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11		To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
12		But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

This will be continued next week.

Some Scripture for those who want to look ahead:

2 Chronicles 26:16-21; Daniel 3:1-7, 12-18; Daniel 6:6-11, 16-17; Matthew 2:8-15; Acts 4:17-21; Acts 5:17-18, Acts 5:26-29

Next: Lesson 6 - Does God's Word command us to obedience in all cases? (Part 2)