Trusting God Even When His Commands Are Not Popular

 If we are to live by faith, it is critical that we understand God does not change the rules or his attitude toward us.  Without that assurance, we can never be sure what to expect from him.  Fortunately, we have verses like Malachi 3:6 , which says, “For I am the LORD, I change not…”, or Hebrews 13:8, which says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”  As a result, we can always be sure what will please him and what will not.

 

In Modern America, there is a tendency to hold different people to different standards, whether based on personal wealth or culture.  God was very specific that the same standards were to apply to everyone, in Numbers 15:29-31.  “Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.  But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.  Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.” 

 

While they could cut a person who didn’t know better a little slack, a person who deliberately did wrong was to be held fully accountable, regardless of his background or financial state.  It is the same principle stated By Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17.  “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.”  While God may overlook unintentional sin, deliberate sin exhibits a disdain for him that will not be ignored. 

 

While they were camped at Mount Sinai, God had given the Israelites specific commands that they were not to do any work on the Sabbath.  Numbers 35:2-3 are quite explicit.  “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.  Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.” 

 

About a year later, after repeated efforts to make sure everyone knew what the law said, a man violated that command, in Numbers 15:32-34.  “And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.  And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.  And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.”

 

There was no question about whether he knew the law and the law was quite clear that he was to be executed, but they were not sure how he was to be killed.  God answered that question, in Numbers 15:35-36.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.  And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.”  It was to be carried out publicly by the entire nation so that there was no question of this being just one person’s opinion.  If they believed God, they had to perform the execution, distasteful though it might be.  If we really trust God, we will obey him even when his commands are unpopular or unpleasant.