Exodus 5:2 "Who is the Lord, that I should obey him....?"

NIV version Exodus 5:2 says: Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."

This statement is part of a discussion between Pharaoh of Egypt and Moses when Moses was trying to talk Pharaoh into letting the Israelites leave Egypt. We can almost read the sarcasm and arrogance in the Pharaoh's voice. Pharaoh simply could not believe that Moses would think that Pharaoh, a god in the eyes of his empire, would/could listen to the God of Moses and the Israelites. After all, why should he listen to this God who was so insignificant that Pharaoh didn't even know who He was?

Oftentimes we choose to ask the same arrogant question. Who is the Lord and why should I obey Him? The simplest answer is that the Lord, our God, is the creator/sustainer/master of absolutely everything and we should obey because He is master. We should obey because He can, because He is, because He asks us to, because He loves us so much that He gave us salvation through His Son, Jesus.

Of course, we have the right to choose to obey or not. Just like when we were children, we could choose to pick up our toys, or sit in the corner chair. We could choose to eat one bite of peas, or sit alone at the kitchen table. At some point, once we know how our parents operate, we decide that we'd rather do the fun stuff that comes with prompt obedience than to have our own way.

That's the way it is when we are children in our relationship with God too. Before we know God and who He is, we simply do whatever we want. For some of us that is pretty bad stuff and for others it is just bad enough. Then at some point, we choose to obey God because obedience gets us stuff; peace during really tough times - a peace that transcends all understanding, answers to prayer, salvation, guidance, etc.

Once we gain some maturity in our relationship to God, we choose to obey for different reasons. We choose to obey because God is Who He says He is. We obey whether we get anything out of it or not. We obey because God deserves our obedience. Our Lord God deserves so much more than our obedience. Just like we do with our parents, we choose to obey simply because we want to show our honor and praise. To obey God is to show in some small way that we honor, respect, and know Him to be worthy. God is worthy of our praise and obedience. Time to practice (and it takes practice) obedience to the One who is worthy.

Lord, please help me to obey you more and more as I come to know you more and more. Help me to lean on You, learn from You and about You so much so that obedience is my natural reaction rather than an afterthought. I want to be obedient without question and I can't do that without You. amen.

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