How to Interpret the Bible (part 5) - Commands
Introduction. Many of you reading this article today have had the frustrating experience of putting together a toy or tool from overseas with instructions that make no sense. We are left to blunder along, sometimes succeeding and other times breaking something. This illustrates the importance of good instructions. When a parent, teacher, or employer gives a task, the instructions must be easy to understand. First, we assess the wisdom and experience of those who will be responsible. Second we evaluate the complexity of the task. Some things can be done in many different ways because the results are relative. Mowing the lawn or cleaning a room are simple tasks that don’t require great details. Yet the very first time we assign it to a young child, we need to be very specific and give it step by step. “Pick up the clothes, put away the toys, make the bed, etc.”
When initially training those who work with electricity or natural gas, very specific instructions must be learned and understood. Even a minor mistake can result in death or destruction. Multitudes of things can only be done one way.
Hence all good instructors understand the need for very general commands when the task is easy and simple. They reserve specific commands for complicated tasks requiring step-by-step guidance. It doesn’t matter what the occupation is - a student, mechanic, doctor, nurse, electrician, mechanic, manufacturer, or chemist all need such general and specific instructions.
Yet when Christians speak of general and specific authority/commands, as a means to understand Scripture, they are treated as though they have created something new and novel. Is it really novel to think that God would use the same principles to guide us to heaven? Scriptures contain the most important of all instructions! Eternal life or eternal condemnation will result from how well we follow them. Can anyone believe that our loving Creator, who wants “all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth”, would not word His commands and instructions so we can succeed? Is everyone so experienced that God doesn’t need to give step-by-step specific instructions to us? Are the things God has asked us to do so simple we only need general commands? Since God long ago revealed that it is “not in man to direct his own steps” and that “My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” that is clearly not the case (Jer. 10:23; Isa. 55:8).
Just like all good parents, God can give general instructions to His children when things are simple and easily accomplished and specific or step-by-step instructions for things that are complicated or can only be done one way. When God told Noah to “make yourself an ark,” He gave a general command. He left the tools and methods to Noah’s discretion. But God gave very specific instructions for the materials and dimensions. Only God knew the forces the flood would create and the needs of each animal. God gave exact directions about the type of wood, the door and windows, its length, height, and width, and the number of stories. God did not leave these things to Noah because he did not have the wisdom to understand what was needed. As he followed God’s step-by-step instructions, “Noah did; according to all that God commanded him” (Gen. 6:22), and everything worked out successfully.
We always know whether the instruction is general, leaving the details to us or specific step-by-step instructions by the way a command is worded. When God speaks in specifics, we must do it in specifics. When God speaks in general terms, we can fulfill it any way we choose. When God asked Moses and Israel to “make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them,” (Ex. 25:8) it was impossible for them to know how to build it. As a “copy and shadow of the heavenly things,” “Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle” to make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” (Heb 8:5). The materials, dimensions, and furniture were so specific, that even written instructions were not enough, God showed him the pattern for each article.
Every architect, who puts down the desires of a future owner, understands exactly what God was doing. They give all builders an exact blueprint (pattern to follow). The tallest building in the world is 160 stories, the longest bridge is 102 miles long, and the fastest jet or computer all share the same need for exact specifications and a perfect pattern. A minor mistake can topple a tall building or tear the wing off an airplane. If following the specific instructions of the designer are so critical in these realms, it should come as no surprise that God needs to do the same thing, and that the same catastrophic results can occur if something is ignored.
When God told the priests how to offer the incense, He gave specific instructions about ingredients, the altar of incense to burn it on, when it was to be burned and the type of fire used to burn it. If we have any doubt about the exacting standards of God’s instructions, we need look no further than the lack of attention to the specific details that cost Nadab and Abihu their lives. While God had asked for “a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar” (Lev 16:12-13), they “offered profane fire before the Lord which He had not commanded them.” When “they died before the Lord,” was it any different than the electrician who died after being told to turn off a specific circuit breaker, but chose instead a “strange” breaker “not commanded?” Just as there must be respect for the awesome power of electricity, there must be respect for the awesome power of God. “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.” (Lev. 10:1-3).
God always gives general commands when He knows it is safe to use our own wisdom and specific commands when it must be done exactly as He revealed. God accused Saul of rebellion and stubbornness when he ignored this. God had told Saul to “utterly destroy Amelek.” Once again, only God knew the level of vengeance that was necessary. When God specified, “slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey,” it was because that was the only means to accomplish it. It followed the same pattern as the flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the seven nations of Canaan. In wording it in this way God revealed exactly what He needed. It was a perfect and fail proof mission for Saul if he followed the instructions. But Saul did not follow the pattern God gave. They “spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good.” Just as an owner would regret choosing a builder who ignored the instructions that led to a catastrophic failure, God said, “I regret I made Saul king” “for he is turned back from following me, and has not performed my commands.” (1Sam. 15:1-23)
Conclusion. Interpreting the instructions for any task is not complicated. When given a general command, we are being told that the methods are up to us. When Jesus said “go into all the world,” He revealed that whatever way we choose is fine. There is no specification on how we get there. But when we start preaching, we can only preach the gospel. Any additions of our own ideas into that preaching will bring a catastrophic failure: “There are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:7-9)
When initially training those who work with electricity or natural gas, very specific instructions must be learned and understood. Even a minor mistake can result in death or destruction. Multitudes of things can only be done one way.
Hence all good instructors understand the need for very general commands when the task is easy and simple. They reserve specific commands for complicated tasks requiring step-by-step guidance. It doesn’t matter what the occupation is - a student, mechanic, doctor, nurse, electrician, mechanic, manufacturer, or chemist all need such general and specific instructions.
Yet when Christians speak of general and specific authority/commands, as a means to understand Scripture, they are treated as though they have created something new and novel. Is it really novel to think that God would use the same principles to guide us to heaven? Scriptures contain the most important of all instructions! Eternal life or eternal condemnation will result from how well we follow them. Can anyone believe that our loving Creator, who wants “all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth”, would not word His commands and instructions so we can succeed? Is everyone so experienced that God doesn’t need to give step-by-step specific instructions to us? Are the things God has asked us to do so simple we only need general commands? Since God long ago revealed that it is “not in man to direct his own steps” and that “My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” that is clearly not the case (Jer. 10:23; Isa. 55:8).
Just like all good parents, God can give general instructions to His children when things are simple and easily accomplished and specific or step-by-step instructions for things that are complicated or can only be done one way. When God told Noah to “make yourself an ark,” He gave a general command. He left the tools and methods to Noah’s discretion. But God gave very specific instructions for the materials and dimensions. Only God knew the forces the flood would create and the needs of each animal. God gave exact directions about the type of wood, the door and windows, its length, height, and width, and the number of stories. God did not leave these things to Noah because he did not have the wisdom to understand what was needed. As he followed God’s step-by-step instructions, “Noah did; according to all that God commanded him” (Gen. 6:22), and everything worked out successfully.
We always know whether the instruction is general, leaving the details to us or specific step-by-step instructions by the way a command is worded. When God speaks in specifics, we must do it in specifics. When God speaks in general terms, we can fulfill it any way we choose. When God asked Moses and Israel to “make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them,” (Ex. 25:8) it was impossible for them to know how to build it. As a “copy and shadow of the heavenly things,” “Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle” to make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” (Heb 8:5). The materials, dimensions, and furniture were so specific, that even written instructions were not enough, God showed him the pattern for each article.
Every architect, who puts down the desires of a future owner, understands exactly what God was doing. They give all builders an exact blueprint (pattern to follow). The tallest building in the world is 160 stories, the longest bridge is 102 miles long, and the fastest jet or computer all share the same need for exact specifications and a perfect pattern. A minor mistake can topple a tall building or tear the wing off an airplane. If following the specific instructions of the designer are so critical in these realms, it should come as no surprise that God needs to do the same thing, and that the same catastrophic results can occur if something is ignored.
When God told the priests how to offer the incense, He gave specific instructions about ingredients, the altar of incense to burn it on, when it was to be burned and the type of fire used to burn it. If we have any doubt about the exacting standards of God’s instructions, we need look no further than the lack of attention to the specific details that cost Nadab and Abihu their lives. While God had asked for “a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar” (Lev 16:12-13), they “offered profane fire before the Lord which He had not commanded them.” When “they died before the Lord,” was it any different than the electrician who died after being told to turn off a specific circuit breaker, but chose instead a “strange” breaker “not commanded?” Just as there must be respect for the awesome power of electricity, there must be respect for the awesome power of God. “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.” (Lev. 10:1-3).
God always gives general commands when He knows it is safe to use our own wisdom and specific commands when it must be done exactly as He revealed. God accused Saul of rebellion and stubbornness when he ignored this. God had told Saul to “utterly destroy Amelek.” Once again, only God knew the level of vengeance that was necessary. When God specified, “slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey,” it was because that was the only means to accomplish it. It followed the same pattern as the flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the seven nations of Canaan. In wording it in this way God revealed exactly what He needed. It was a perfect and fail proof mission for Saul if he followed the instructions. But Saul did not follow the pattern God gave. They “spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good.” Just as an owner would regret choosing a builder who ignored the instructions that led to a catastrophic failure, God said, “I regret I made Saul king” “for he is turned back from following me, and has not performed my commands.” (1Sam. 15:1-23)
Conclusion. Interpreting the instructions for any task is not complicated. When given a general command, we are being told that the methods are up to us. When Jesus said “go into all the world,” He revealed that whatever way we choose is fine. There is no specification on how we get there. But when we start preaching, we can only preach the gospel. Any additions of our own ideas into that preaching will bring a catastrophic failure: “There are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:7-9)