Bible and Civil Government
In January through April of 2012 I led a Bible Study on the Bible and Civil Government. It lasted 13 weeks. These lessons are being posted on a website: https://bibleandcivilgovernment.com.
The Lessons are a bit long for people to read on social media, so the lessons are being posted on MeWe in shorter pieces.
Does God's Word command us to obedience in all cases?
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. |
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. |
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 gate |
Conclusion: Any interpretation of Romans 13:1-7 that includes a statement that Christians are to obey civil government in all things is incorrect. A better understanding is needed.
Next: Part 11 - Does God's Word command us to obedience in all cases?
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