Who is the Lord? Why should I obey him?
At some point in our lives, we all ask these questions. How we arrive at the answer is different for each of us. Some of us heard about God in church as children and believe. Some heard about God in Sunday School, or through friends and chose to believe. Others are more skeptical and for them the answers come through a variety of challenging life experiences that demonstrate God’s mighty power.
In the book of Exodus, God told Moses and Aaron to ask Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to allow the Israelites to go and worship him for three days. However, rather than listen to them, Pharaoh asked, who is the Lord and why should I obey him? (Exodus 5:2)
Moses and Aaron’s request to Pharaoh was not unreasonable. However, Pharaoh treated God, Moses, and Aaron with contempt.
When Pharaoh asked Moses, “Who is the Lord that I should obey him?” The Lord answered by sending a series of plagues, each one progressively worse than the previous one (Exodus Chapters 7-12). The final plague took the lives of the firstborn sons of all Egyptians including Pharaoh’s son. By this time, Pharaoh was ready to make a deal.
He cried out to Moses, Get out! leave my people and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds as you have requested and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave (Exodus 12:31-32).
The plagues were gifts in unusual wrappings to Pharaoh in response to his question, who is the Lord that I should obey him? He had a choice to accept or continue to deny God. Unfortunately, Pharaoh continued in rebellion and refused to acknowledge the Lord. He and the Egyptians suffered the consequences by perishing in the Red Sea.
Sometimes, by His divine plan, we too receive gifts in unusual wrappings in the form of various challenges, that are designed to draw us closer to God. It is also in God’s character to provide answers to our questions, especially the one we ask when we rebel, Who is the Lord?
When we disobey God and choose to live independently of Him, we too are asking the same question as Pharaoh. God answers in a similar fashion through various life altering events. We have a choice to continue in rebellion and perish like Pharaoh and the Egyptians or repent, believe in the Lord and enjoy sweet fellowship with Him. The Lord is a great King above all gods (Psalm 95:3).
What is your choice?
