Why obey?

Right now, my daughter loves to ask “What is this?” 

Every day, she’ll point at something and say, “What is this?”

I’m trying to give her the English words, while my wife gives her the Japanese.  We’re really hoping she’ll be bilingual when she grows up.

The next big question we’re waiting to hear from her is “Why?” 

I’m not looking forward to that.  Answering “What” is a lot easier than answering “Why?” 

And trying to answer “Why” can get a bit annoying at times.  Especially when she starts questioning our rules.  It would be very tempting to answer, “Because I said so!”

Anyway, as Moses talks to the Israelites in this chapter and reminds them of God’s commands, he gives the people the reason for them. 

God said,

Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! (Deuteronomy 5:29)

Later, Moses told the people,

So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. (32-33)

God doesn’t give arbitrary rules.  He doesn’t say things for no reason.  Rather, it’s his greatest desire that things go well with us. 

It’s his greatest desire that (as Mr. Spock would put it), we live long and prosper.

Sometimes, it’s hard to see why God commands certain things.  But ultimately, when we obey him, we find that our lives are the better for it.  We may not understand now, but we will understand later.

So when you’re tempted to ask why, remember the reason: God loves you and wants the very best for you. 

Do you believe that?