Corona Devo 1066
Is it ever okay to go against what God says?
Believe it or not…Yes.
I learned that today from a guy named Hezekiah.
In a wild and bold move, Hezekiah broke God’s Law
(for Passover), but he blessed God’s heart even as he did it.
Wait…what?
Is it ever
acceptable to God to do what is supposedly unacceptable by His “rules”?
Well—I guess
it all depends on the motives of our heart.
If we are pure in our desire to honor God, then (as Hezekiah demonstrated)
the rules (even God’s rules!) can be bent a little.
Actually, Hezekiah was actually breaking Laws that had been set by Moses and God together
when God rescued the Israelites from the slavery of Pharaoh in Egypt.
The
night before God led the Israelites “out” of Egypt and toward their
Promised Land…God set some rules of for “Passover”, and God gave instruction of what the Israelites
should do that night and then every year afterwards,
as they remembered the great faith and provision that God supplied
during the Passover.
Let’s step back into Exodus 12 to hear the accepted
and understood laws of Passover (that Hezekiah was about to break):
While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: (2) “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. (3) Announce to the whole community of Israel that...each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household…
(6) “Take special care of this chosen
animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the
whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young
goat at twilight. (7) They are
to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes
of the houses where they eat the animal.
(12) On that night I will pass through the
land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in
the land of Egypt… (13) But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign,
marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass
over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of
Egypt.
(14) “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time.
(17) “Celebrate this...for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day. This festival will be a permanent law for you; celebrate this day from generation to generation...
(24) “Remember, these instructions are a
permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever. (25) When you enter the land the Lord has
promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. (26) Then your children will ask,
‘What does this ceremony mean?’ (27) And
you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed
over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians,
he spared our families.’” ~Exodus 12:1-3, 6-7, 12-14, 17, 24-7
Okay...so that's a quick trip through God sparing His own people (the Israelites), while the Egyptians received a final plague from the Lord because the Egyptian king (Pharaoh) would not allow the Israelites to be excused from service so that they could go and worship the Lord.
God gave them the laws (rules) of Passover, and he blatantly told His people to Remember, these instructions are a permanent law, and that meant down to the detail of day-of-the-month for ceremonies and purifications rituals to be done to-the-"T", before people could come before the Lord.
(All of this was necessary and prescribed PRE-Jesus. But after Jesus came and WAS our sacrifice, and He stood in holiness before God FOR US, then the ceremonies and rituals were no longer necessary. If we accept Jesus into our hearts...we are cleansed and purified...and have an open path to the Promised Land!)
But Hezekiah lived before Jesus, and the rules still very much applied to him and his people.
Stay tuned to see how Hezekiah BROKE lots of the rules that were ordered-by-God…but watch and see how God accepted their deviances because Hezekiah’s heart (and the people’s hearts with him)…were pure in their intentions toward honoring God:
King Hezekiah now sent word to all Israel and Judah...He asked everyone to come to the Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the Lord, the God of Israel.
(2) The king, his officials, and all the community of Jerusalem decided to celebrate Passover a month later than usual. (3) They were unable to celebrate it at the prescribed time because not enough priests could be purified by then, and the people had not yet assembled at Jerusalem.
(13) So
a huge crowd assembled at Jerusalem in midspring to celebrate the Festival
of Unleavened Bread…
(15) On
the fourteenth day of the second month, one month later than usual, the
people slaughtered the Passover lamb.
This shamed the priests and Levites, so they purified themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Temple of the Lord. ~2 Chronicles 30:1-3, 13, 15
This "shamed the priests" because the priests knew the "rules" of Passover (dates and purification laws) and "who" (only purified people) were "allowed" to bring burnt offerings to the Temple of the Lord. Hezekiah and the people were out-of-line in regard to spiritual law (rules).
(17) Since
many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter
their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the Lord. (18) Most of those who came from
Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. ~
This (non-purification) was a very big no-no in terms of God's law...IF it had been done in disrespect to the Lord. BUT, it had ALL been done with respect, deference, and in honor to the Lord.
But
King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal
anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law.
For
Hezekiah said, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon those (19) who decide to follow the Lord,
the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the
ceremony.” (20) And the Lord listened
to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people.
(21) So
the people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem joyously celebrated the
Festival of Unleavened Bread...
(25) The
entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who
came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all
those who lived in Judah. ~
Everyone rejoiced! Together, and on level-ground.
(26) There
was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this
one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son. (27) Then
the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their
prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven. ~2 Chronicles 30:26-27
~~~
It was a very gutsy move on Hezekiah's part, but it was all with sure and pure motives from Hezekiah's heart.
As far as I can tell, those are the only acceptable grounds for going against God's "rules".
And...am I saying to go against God's rules? Never.
Unless your heart and motives are absolutely sure and pure about it.
Blessings,
sarah
https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com
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