Are you one of those people who likes to follow step-by-step instructions to assemble Ikea furniture and follow recipes while cooking? I’m a rebel when it comes to following instructions. I’m generally very creative, so I don’t like to follow instructions. I always try to come up with my version of the recipe or a creative way to assemble furniture without following the instructions.
Recently, I’ve been reading the book of Joshua at my work Bible Study group and Exodus at my home Bible study. I was fascinated by all the instructions God gave to Moses and Joshua. In the book of Exodus, God gave exact instructions to the Israelites about the pass-over. According to Exodus 12:3-4, “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are, each one, to take a lamb for themselves, according to the fathers’ households, a lamb for each household. Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; in proportion to what each one should eat, you are to divide the lamb” (New American Standard Bible).
That’s when it struck me that God wants to be involved in the details; He gave the exact measurement to build the ark of the covenant. According to Exodus 25:10-11 “Now they shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. You shall also cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet; two rings shall be on one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it (New American Standard Bible).
God also gave specific instructions when he asked Noah to build an ark. According to Genesis 6:14-16, “Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with compartments, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top, and put the door of the ark on the side; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks” (New American Standard Bible).
When God can provide clear instructions to Moses, Noah, and others in the Bible, how much more He wants to give us the exact instructions for our life problems? When God gives us instructions, He wants us to obey all details without adding or subtracting anything from them. For example, Moses did not listen to God’s exact instructions. God wanted Moses to speak to the rock for the water to come; instead, he hit the rock. This disobedience cost Moses a lot; he could not enter the promised land. That must have been a very painful lesson Moses had to learn. Adam and Eve’s disobedience to not listen to the exact instructions also cost them a lot, requiring Jesus to die on the cross to save us.
When faced with challenges in life, we can either choose to do whatever we want or ask God to guide us. It is also our choice to whether or not to follow God’s instructions. God never forces us to follow all His instructions. If we decide not to follow His instructions or commands, we will miss out on everything God has for us.
