God’s Standards are Reasonable

Many times, people resent God’s standards, feeling like they keep them from doing what other people do.   They do not realize that the same standards that kept them from receiving eternal life also help keep them in a place where they can experience God’s blessings.  Once again, the Old Testament Law provides us a valuable example. 

In Exodus 15:26 God told Moses, “… If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” 

In Leviticus 11, God gave some specific instructions as to what animals the Jews were permitted to eat and what was forbidden.  While it seems quite restrictive to us, there were definite health reasons for following this standard.  For example, pigs are susceptible to many of the same diseases humans are, and avoiding them would reduce the danger of exposure.  Predators and scavengers were likely to be exposed to harmful diseases and microbes that herbivores were unlikely to come in contacts with.  Similar things were true of different types of fish and sea animals.   Even today people are advised to avoid certain types of fish and shell fish because of diseases that have been found in them.  Obeyinbg those laws would go a long way in preventing certain illnesses. 

The laws governing sexual behavior served a similar purpose.  For example, nearly all of the sexually transmitted diseases originated from sexual intercourse with different animals.  Incestuous relationships greatly increase the danger of genetic abnormalities by increasing the likelihood that both parents may have the same genetic mutation.  Promiscuity and homosexuality often cause emotional problems as well as exposing people to various sexually transmitted diseases.  While it is not a homosexual disease, seventy five percent of all new AIDS cases in the U.S. are still found among homosexuals, while promiscuity accounts for nearly all the other types of STD’s. 

Laws governing the treatment of molds, and different infectious diseases using disinfectants or quarantining those who were infected and avoiding contact with potential sources of infection served to prevent the spread of other diseases, as did keeping rodents and insects out of the homes.  Laws about treatment of other people, and personal property kept the society healthy by preventing unnecessary conflicts and minimizing fear, limiting people’s ability to interfere in one’s life.  Because some people deliberately ignore the rights of others, penalties were established to discourage and deter them. 

People tend to rebel against God’s standards because, like Eve, they have fallen for Satan’s lie that God is just trying to keep them from enjoying their life to the fullest.    If they understand God’s love, some will turn and begin to obey his commands.  Others reject God’s authority, insisting on doing things their own way.   Romans 1:28-32 describes their state.  “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

God has allowed them to go their own way for a while so that they can learn the physical, emotional, and societal effects of their behavior.   In their heart, they know that what they are doing is wrong, but in their rebellion they not only do those things themselves, but encourage others to do so as well.  They will eventually face God’s judgment for their actions.   The situation is complicated when people try to substitute their own standards for what God has set.