Submit Yourself to God

To those who may not be familiar with the Bible as God’s word, I would like to share where I believe the standard for human government originally came from. I believe this standard was established by God through Moses, and that the passage below gives a clear depiction of the order, structure, and design that God intended. According to my understanding, God used Moses to set in place principles of leadership, authority, and accountability that still reflect how governing bodies function today. In this way, I see the Bible not only as a spiritual guide but also as the foundation for the way governments are organized and operate in our world. These verses below make it all clear.

[Exo 18:14-25] 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?" 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws." 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace." 24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

City/Town Government __This =s Tens, which is broke down per cities

County Government __ This =s Fifties, which is broke down by county

State Government   __ This =s Hundreds, which is broke down by states

Federal Government __ This =s Thousands, which is broke down per continent

These verses illuminate the fundamental reasons for the establishment of government and identify its ultimate author. The concept of governance is not a mere human invention; rather, it is divinely instituted. According to the belief expressed in these texts, God established the laws and frameworks of government to guide and uphold our society, particularly in response to humanity's collective decision to turn away from divine authority.

Even in the New Testament, it speaks of the authority and who is behind it all. God.

Do not be submissive to the ways of this land but to the ways of God. However, you desired to possess the power and authority that mankind wielded, rather than accepting the divine gift that God was offering—a true and righteous rule characterized by justice, compassion, and moral integrity. This divine governance promised not just the ability to govern, but a harmonious way of life aligned with the principles of goodness and truth, far surpassing the flawed and often corrupt systems created by human hands. The verses below will show how and when it started.

Samuel would hear from God and speak to the leaders of that day. 

1 Samuel 8:7 

And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

Hosea 8:4 

They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.

This rejection of God's rightful rule has led to the necessity of a structured governing body to maintain order, justice, and the common good within the land. By acknowledging this divine origin, we can better appreciate the moral and ethical foundations upon which our laws are built and the responsibility we have to uphold them in alignment with these higher principles. As you will see, when you reject God, you have no direction, and your will is of your own pleasures. However, when we take that stand, it will cause God to then judge us. Those who choose not to serve God are then made fools.

Judges 21:25 

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Romans 1:21-23 

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

The ways of this world are meant to reflect the divine will of God rather than the whims of humanity. This is why our true home lies beyond this earthly existence. We are called to guide others along the righteous path, pointing them toward salvation and illuminating their journey with hope and truth.

So, when we go against the laws of the land, we are not defying man, we are defying God.

This does not prevent individuals from being who they are, as human nature often leads to sin, particularly for those who have not yet come to know God. It is important to recognize that people will still commit wrongful acts, driven by their inherent nature. Therefore, we must remain steadfast in our beliefs and values unless our actions directly contradict God’s teachings. This point is made abundantly clear in scripture and spiritual teachings. Embracing faith involves a commitment to righteousness while acknowledging the complexities of humanity.

Romans 13:1-14

 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,  for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.  Therefore, one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.  For because of this, you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.  Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

1 Peter 2:13-17 

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Titus 3:1 

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work

As we journey through this life as temporary inhabitants of the earth, we are continually reminded that our true home is with God. In the midst of changing circumstances, shifting cultural values, and personal challenges, we are invited by God to remain steadfast in adhering to His teachings and principles, unless any human tradition or opinion conflicts with His divine Word. This call to faithfulness urges us to examine our choices, attitudes, and priorities in light of Scripture, allowing God’s truth to shape the way we think, speak, and act.

Such faithfulness encourages us to navigate our daily lives with purpose and integrity—whether in our families, workplaces, friendships, or private moments—upholding values that reflect our commitment to Him. It means choosing honesty over deception, love over bitterness, humility over pride, and obedience over convenience, even when it is difficult or costly. As we do this, our lives become living testimonies of God’s grace and power at work within us.

The passages we will look at next help to illustrate this calling more clearly. They show us, through both instruction and example, what it truly means to remain faithful to God in a world that often pulls us in the opposite direction.

Daniel 3:16-18 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Acts 5:29 

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

This passage serves as a reflection on the profound nature of our laws, emphasizing that they are not merely human constructs but rather divinely ordained by God. It invites those who identify as Christians to examine their beliefs and actions critically, urging them to consider whether they truly align with God's teachings and commandments. For those who find themselves opposing these divine laws, it may be time to engage in a deeper introspection and self-evaluation, as their stance may not be in harmony with the principles outlined in scripture. This contemplation encourages believers to strive for a closer adherence to their faith, recognizing the importance of integrity in living out their spiritual convictions.

In the teachings of God, it is conveyed that His faithful followers, referred to as His sheep, recognize His voice and willingly pursue the path He has set for them. This profound connection serves as a testament to true believers, as they commit themselves to the sacred scripture, accepting its divine message. They do not twist or manipulate the words of the Bible to fit their personal desires or agendas; instead, they seek to understand and embrace the authentic meaning of God's teachings, allowing them to guide their lives in accordance with His will.

I will conclude with a brief reflection on how we should perceive the laws of our land. If we are genuinely seeking the truth of God in all our actions, we cannot allow ourselves to be misled by the false narratives present in this society.

As always, I hope this helps you gain a closer relationship with our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

Peace & Shalom