Many of us can still remember the phrases we heard our parents say regularly. As we’ve grown up, we might have even found ourselves saying them too. My kids giggle when they hear me say, “We’re headed out like a herd of turtles.” I can still picture my mom’s face when she used to say it as we finally all got buckled into our car seats usually about 15 minutes late. I also get a little nostalgic when my kids groan when I open their curtains some mornings with a bright and happy, “Rise and shine for Jesus!” But there was one phrase I promised myself I would never say.
“Because I said so.”
As a mom of two young kids, I’ve realized something. “Because I said so” was usually not a first response but a last resort.
I’ve experienced the mental exhaustion of explaining for the tenth time in one morning why my son cannot play swords with scissors. Eventually I find myself saying, “because I’m the parent, and I said so.” Despite the fact that I am indeed the parent and have God-given authority over my children and make these rules because I love them and want what’s best for them, they don’t see it the same way. They see it much like I did growing up, a cop-out answer.
As exhausting as it is to keep explaining why time after time I want them to understand the heart behind my rules, I ultimately want them to grow up believing in God’s heart behind His rules as well.
God’s Reasoning for His Commands
When we start to question why we should obey God or question the reasoning behind His commandments, God could say “because I said so.” Because the all-powerful, omnipotent Creator of the world said so. If ever there was an authority that had the right to use this phrase, it would be God. But all throughout Scripture, we see that God doesn’t take the simple way out. He is faithful to reveal to us why He has chosen the commandments He has chosen.
Think back for a moment to Wednesday’s reading.
“‘And now, if you will diligently listen to me and keep my covenant, then you will be my special
possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is mine, and you will be to me a kingdom of
priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
Obedience was called for not because God said so, though that is reason enough, but because God has a personal relationship with His people. Through their obedience, others will come to know the heart of God.
Meditating on God’s Heart
Today’s reading takes us even deeper into God’s heart. As we read it, we can meditate on the heart and reason behind each and every one of the rules.
Take part of today’s verse as an example. God tells His people to stay away from false charges. Naturally we might ask, “why?” Because God cares about truth prevailing and the integrity of His people. We see this confirmed throughout scripture (John 14:6; Proverbs 12:22; Psalm 101:7).
I encourage you to take a few minutes to read through these chapters. Pick a couple of commandments and prayerfully ask God to show you His heart behind each one.
A few examples from my own time in today’s chapters are.
- Because God cares about the poor, the weak, and the oppressed
- Because God cares about justice and holiness
- Because God cares that through His chosen, set apart people, others will see His glory.
- Because God cares about compassion and kindness
- Because God cares that we understand the seriousness of sin
- Because God cares that families are healthy
- Because God cares about the foreigner
- Because God cares about the sanctity of life
Meditating on God’s heart though means meditating on the state of our own hearts as well. Through the law, we see God’s priorities. We see His standard. We see His righteousness. Through the law, we see God’s perfect heart.
But through the same law, we see our own broken hearts. He knew we couldn’t follow the law. The law was given so that we would see our Savior’s heart as well as see our brokenness and need for a Savior. When we choose to put our trust in Jesus Christ, our hearts are transformed to be like His. We come back to caring about the same things God does once we’ve received forgiveness through Jesus’ own righteousness.
And now, fellow believers in Christ, we too can say that our hearts are for the weak and oppressed, for justice and mercy, for integrity and truth, for the sanctity of life, and so much more through the power of a loving God.
