As the Lord Commanded
The book of Exodus opens having the Hebrew people enslaved by the pharaoh of Egypt. Afflicted and in turmoil, they cried out to God seeking His help, and received it. While Exodus is a book about deliverance, it is also a book that reveals how when the Lord’s commands are obeyed His glory is present with His people. Because Exodus records the phrase “as the Lord commanded” seventeen different times, it is worthwhile to see how deliverance and obedience are important to God’s people.
How important is it to follow the Lord’s commands? It matters everything. Had the Hebrews not followed the instructions for the Passover (12.21-24) they would have suffered the same destructive plague of the Egyptians, the death of their first-born. But also in keeping the Passover it was necessary for all males, both of Hebrew and Gentile heritage, to be circumcised. Yet, because the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded, in other words they were obedient, (12.50) God brought them out of the land of bondage.
After the free-will offering of Exodus 35, the construction of tabernacle items and the ark (Exodus 36 and 37 respectively), the Hebrews constructed the priests’ garments (Exodus 39). Because they were obedient to Moses’ instructions regarding the priestly garments, the Hebrews were extolled seven times for doing “as the Lord commanded Moses.”
How important is it to follow the Lord’s commands? It matters everything. As the tabernacle was assembled, everything from the ark, to the lighting of the lamps, from the burning of incense, to the offering of sacrifices was done “as the Lord commanded Moses.” In short, they were obedient in every way. The result of the deliverance from Egypt was that they learned to be obedient to God, and upon their obedience, God’s glory entered the tabernacle and remained with Israel (Exodus 40.34-38).
How important is it to follow the Lord’s commands? It matters everything. Jesus expresses that only those who do the will of the Father will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7.21). Doing the will of God, means following His commands. While His commands challenge our actions and beliefs, His commands are designed to lead us into lifelong actions and beliefs that are in harmony with God Himself. By doing God’s will one lives in harmony with God; so on the Day of Judgment the soul will hear the joyful welcome home of “Well done…enter into the joy of thy lord.”
