Disobeying Authorities

Years back, my nephew told what he had experienced. His mother, who at the

time was not a Christian (she has since been saved), was trying to take him

and his sister to a witchcraft-worker supposedly to get protection. The

girl refused, but the boy went. When asked later why he had agreed to go,

the boy responded, but God says to obey your father and mother.

While God commands us to obey our parents (Ephesians 6:1-3) and other

authorities, these authorities are supposed to honor those who do right and

only punish those who do wrong (Romans 13:1-4). So, when human authorities

demand we do evil and break the commandments of Almighty God, who is the

Highest Authority, we should not obey them.

The apostles of the Lord Jesus, Peter and John, refused to obey the

religious authorities who commanded themmore than onceto stop speaking in

the name of Jesus. Peter and John were arrested after performing miraculous

signs and sharing the good news of Jesus. The Jewish religious authorities

told the two apostles not to

speak or teach in the name of Jesus again. But Peter and John replied, Do

you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?’ (Acts 4:19). So they

continued to preach the message that Jesus is the Messiah every day (Acts

5:42).

In the Old Testament, two Hebrew midwivesShiphrah and Puahwere commanded

by Pharaoh to kill all the male children at birth. These midwives were

faced with a choice: to obey the human authority, the pharaoh, and kill

Hebrew baby boys, or to obey God, who is the Highest Authority. They chose

to obey God. The midwives disobeyed Pharoah’s orders and delivered the

babies alive! God was pleased and dealt well with these women (Exodus

1:15-21).

Then, three Hebrew boysShadrach, Meshach, and Abednegodisobeyed King

Nebuchadnezzar’s orders to worship a golden statue, even though

Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw them alive into a burning fiery furnace.

They knew God could save them from the furnace, but even if He didn’t, they

told the king, we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue

you have set up (Daniel 3:16-18). The boys chose to continue worshipping

the only true and living God. And God rescued them from the fire. Charity

Kiregyera

Have you ever faced a situation where you had to choose between obeying

God and obeying a person? When you find yourself in such a situation, you

need help and support, counsel and encouragement. Who are trusted

Christianssuch as pastors, parents, and church eldersyou can go to for

help?

The apostles replied, We must obey God rather than any human authority.

Acts 5:29b (NLT)

Read Verses:

Daniel 3:16-Daniel 3:18; Acts:4:16-Acts:4:22; Acts:5:27-Acts:5:42; Exod:1:15-Exod:1:21