Why does God give the moral law? Why does any good father issue laws? Is he merely testing his childs obedience? Is he simply exercising power and control over the child? A father gives laws to his children for their well being — because he loves them, wants what is best for them, and does not want them to get hurt. The law is an expression of a fathers love. The same is true with our heavenly Father. Consider the first prohibitive law in the Bible, given to Adam. God does not give this law to Adam in order to control him and restrict his freedom. In fact, Gods words underscore the broad liberty He was giving Adam to eat freely from every other tree in the garden. There is only one tree from which God does not want Adam to eat, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Neither is the law given merely to test Adams obedience. There is a much deeper purpose to the command. God gives this law to protect Adam from some danger that is symbolized by the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Gods moral law is like an instruction manual for our lives. When purchasing a car, one receives an owners manual that tells how best to operate the vehicle. They are not given to control us or restrict our freedom. They are given to help us use the vehicle well. Similarly, the moral law is like Gods instruction manual for our lives. God is the divine manufacturer. He made us and knows how we work. He knows that certain actions will lead us to happiness while other acts will end only in frustration and emptiness for ourselves and others. Thats why God gives the moral law — to help guide us on the pathway to happiness. The law flows from Gods love for us. But the devil wants Adam and Eve (and all of us) to view Gods law apart from His love — to see the command as a rule, not as an expression of His relationship with us. The law is an expression of a fathers love.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 05:31:15 +0000
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