Orders: God’s orders are more than suggestions

The Nature of Divine Orders

Everyone is under legitimate authority, and we are instructed to pray for those in such positions (1 Tim 2:1,2). In secular society, employees are bound by contract to obey earthly masters unless it violates biblical principles, as then "We must obey God rather than man" (Act 5:29; Eph 6:5-7). This principle applies to both the physical world and spiritual realm (Rom 6:16; 2 Pet 2:19).

Orders are obligations to be fulfilled, not debated. They are issued for a reason by those who see the bigger picture, while chaos prevails when everyone does what seems right in their own eyes (Jdg 17:6). We must submit to governing authorities as God has established them (Rom 13:1-7).

Personal preferences don’t matter, obedience does

Rebelling against authority brings penalties, as seen when the human race fell in Eden. "Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it" (Lk 11:28). We should have the mindset: "We are only unworthy servants, we have only done our duty" (Lk 17:10).

If we can't fulfill an order or believe it violates Scripture, we should report this to the authority. Otherwise, they assume the job is done. When choosing not to obey human orders, we must be prepared to suffer consequences, as Daniel and the Hebrew slaves demonstrated (Dan 1:9-20, 3:16-18, 6:7-21). Other examples include the midwives (Ex 1:15-21), Rahab (Josh 2:1-16), and the apostles (Act 4:18,19, 5:28,29).

The Bible shows the chain of authority: "I am a man under authority... I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes" (Mt 8:8,9). We should submit to every authority for the Lord's sake (1 Pet 2:13-20).

Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commands" (Jn 14:15).

As servants of Jesus, we must carry out His instructions completely: "Whatsoever He says to you, do it" (Jn 2:5). Those who act on His teachings will stand secure (Mt 7:24-27).

Orders should result in Obedience

Obedience requires immediacy and completeness. Delay is disobedience. The Israelites marched around Jericho as commanded, and only after complete obedience did the walls fall (Josh 6:3,4,20). Partial obedience is disobedience, as Saul learned (1 Sam 15:3,9,22,23). God values obedience

Immediate obedience demonstrates true faith

over sacrifice. Abraham obeyed God's command to sacrifice Isaac without hesitation, demonstrating that true faith results in immediate obedience even when we don't understand (Gen 22:2). Joseph's faithfulness in small matters prepared him for greater responsibility (Gen 39:2-6, 21-23; 41:39-41).

Jesus' disciples demonstrated immediate obedience when called, leaving their occupations without hesitation (Mt 9:9; Mk 1:16-20). Their prompt response contrasts with the rich young ruler who went away sad (Mk 10:21-22).

As believers, we receive God's orders through Scripture, prayer, and from the Holy Spirit. We must respond without debate or delay, trusting that God's commands are for our good, even when we can't see the bigger picture.

Divine orders are not merely directives but sacred invitations to participate in God's redemptive work. When God issues an order, He also provides grace and divine enablement to accomplish it. He gave Noah wisdom and resources for the ark (Gen 6:13-22), equipped Moses with signs (Ex 3:1-4:17),

God's orders come with divine enablement

and gave the disciples authority to preach (Mt 10:1). The order and the ability to fulfill it are intrinsically linked.

Orders from God also serve as tests of faith and character, revealing the depth of our trust. Through these, God develops spiritual maturity, transforming obedience from rule-following to relational response.

The ultimate expression of obedience is found in Jesus Christ, who came "not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me" (Jn 6:38). His perfect obedience led to the cross, fulfilling God's ultimate command to send His Son (1 Jn 4:9). Through Christ's

obedience, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to respond to God's orders with willing hearts.

As believers, we are called to responsive obedience, recognizing it as an opportunity for spiritual growth. When we respond promptly and completely to God's directives, we experience His power, wisdom, and presence. The journey of faith is not about understanding all of God's orders before obeying,

Do I obey the Lord’s orders – fully and quickly?

but about trusting His character. In this responsive obedience, we discover that God's orders are not burdensome but are pathways to freedom, purpose, and intimacy with our Creator (1 Jn 5:3).

Reflection and Application:

God's orders require immediate and complete obedience, not partial compliance or delay.
True faith is demonstrated through prompt action, even when we don't fully understand the purpose.
Divine commands come with divine enablement—God equips us for what He calls us to do.
Obedience is not a burden but a pathway to deeper intimacy with God and spiritual maturity.