Why All the Rules?

When I was a kid, the biggest killjoy in my life was the extensive list of rules that my parents had for the house. Don’t throw food at your brothers. Don’t punch your brothers. Don’t make fun of your sister. Don’t throw the neighbors’ cat into the lake (yes, my parents did have to make that a rule when I was seven, but the cat survived…if you’re wondering). Do your chores. Brush your teeth. Clean your room. The list continues. How can a boy have fun if he doesn’t have some flexibility to get into trouble? Come on, Mom and Dad. Loosen up so I can start living my life.

Now that I have three kids of my own, I really am starting to see from a parent’s perspective the purpose behind all the rules. More specifically, I’m understanding that my parents didn’t create all the rules so that I could never make awesome memories or so they could prove who was in charge. Rather, my parents used these rules to help protect me, my siblings, (and the neighbors’ cat) and to show they loved each of their kids by having our best interest in mind. My wife and I have the same purpose behind our rules now. “No, Charlotte, sticking a fork into the light socket is not a great idea.” “Elizabeth, drink your water because it really helps you exist.” All the rules (I hope so) have their best interest in mind because I love them.

This point is exactly how God frames His commandments to the Israelites. But first, context. God has led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to Mount Sinai to form an agreement between Him and them (Exodus 19:1-8). At the mountain, He claims full responsibility for leading them out of the violent oppression of the Egyptians so that they can live in Canaan, the land He promised them (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:4). He continues by saying that He will make the Israelites a nation that He treasures above all others (Exodus 19:5). In other words, He says that He will provide them with a unique display of protection and love that no other nation can claim. But for the Israelites to fully appreciate God’s protection and be treasured uniquely by Him as His holy people, they must obey God’s commandments (Exodus 19:6, 8). God then proceeds to lay out His Law for the Israelites to follow (Exodus 20-30). Let’s summarize. The purpose of God’s commandments is not to rob His people of joy and love. Rather, the purpose of His commandments is to preserve their joy in and love for Him because the commandments help preserve their relationship with Him by keeping them from sin (see Romans 14:17 and 1 John 4:8).

Dear friend, if you have accepted the Gospel, God has given you His commandments because He loves you and wants to grow His relationship with you. Don’t get me wrong. You won’t come into a right relationship with God by following the commandments. You only come into a right relationship with God by believing in Christ’s saving work on the cross for you (Ephesians 2:8-9). You can’t earn God’s pleasure by obeying His commandments perfectly. You receive God’s pleasure because you are now hidden in Jesus Christ His Son (Colossians 3:1-3). Rather, you should view God’s commandments as His way of protecting you and giving you the opportunity to love Him more by keeping you away from that which God cannot be in fellowship with (i.e., sin) (John 14:15). In other words, His commandments are good for us because they protect our relationship with Him! So next time we encounter one of God’s commandments, we shouldn’t think, “God, will you get off my back?” but rather, “God, thank you for protecting me and giving me the chance to love you more by humbly submitting to your commands.” 

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