"Because I said so!"

As parents, many of us have given the, “because I said so,” answer to our children. We may reply so out of frustration, either because we feel that our position in the relationship demands blind obedience or because the instruction we’ve given has resulted in escalated emotions. Or, it may be because we don’t want to admit that we don’t really have an answer that will satisfy their “why?”.

What we do instinctively know is that the instruction we’ve given is for their best interest. By instinct, we direct and our children obediently respond. These are our respective roles. (Or, so that’s how it is supposed to work.)

Understanding that, we can also readily view these same roles in our relationship with God, where we are the child and He is the parent, our Father. He directs and we obey.

What is not so easily understood, either by us with Him, or by our children with us, is the reason direction was given in the first place. (Hence, the “why?”) Perhaps, with explanation, this gap in understanding can be eased or erased, but even if not, by obedience the purpose of the direction is accomplished.

There may be nothing particularly revelatory in the above, but I think that we’re missing an important dynamic in this exchange. Instead of seeing what the parent gives and what the child receives, the “direction”, let’s consider what the child gives and the parent receives, the “acknowledgement”.

Consider Leviticus 25, where God sets forth various laws for His people. A good example is in verses 23 and 24, where He tells the Israelites that if they sell their land, it could not be on a “forever” basis. The original owner, or a family member, had the right to buy it back later at a fair price.

23 “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the country you possess, you shall allow a redemption of the land.” (Lev. 25: 23-24)

He says that the land is His, as He made it, and that, as such, He could set the terms of its ownership. His reason for setting these terms (though perfect, and important) is not what we’re focusing on here. Rather, it is the response by the people that we are considering here. By their obedience, the people are acknowledging the sovereignty of God.

Without recognizing His authority, there is nothing that binds them to accept this law. Likewise, if we do not acknowledge Him, we have no interest in His instruction to us. And further, if our children do not accept our position of authority with them, there is no reason for them to obey us. Therefore, by the willful obedience of the child, the role of the parent is authenticated.

If we accept the earlier point, that the direction given by the parent is in the best interest of the child, then we’ve got to admit that there is a benefit for the child in their obedience. That also means that by our obedience to God we are getting something out of it, there is a benefit for us.

Tying these last two points together, we could truthfully say that we get something out of acknowledging Him, and His sovereignty.  That should not be our motivation, of course, but I make the point this way to demonstrate the significance of the opposite position – that by disobedience, or an absence of acknowledging His title, the non-believer has no part in Him, and “removes himself from His blessings, and the rights of the believer” (Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary). Even more, the non-believer (the disobedient) does not receive a pardon simply by denying His title for, as Matthew Henry also says, “judgement in the day will be his.”

Understanding this, our reaction to direction given us is most crucial. Giving ourselves to God also means acknowledging His goodness, His authority and His sovereignty over creation, just as the obedience of our children is a recognition of our position of authority within our household. Giving ourselves to God means giving ourselves to His statutes. And in doing so, we are giving Him the praise that is so absolutely due Him, so absolutely pleases Him, and which is so absolutely received well by Him.

So, instead of looking at obedience as a duty, let’s look at it as a gift.