How does following God's instructions in Exodus 12:28 strengthen our relationship with Him? Setting the Scene “Then the Israelites went and did this; they did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.” (Exodus 12:28) Why Their Obedience Matters • God’s command concerned the Passover lamb—life-and-death instructions. • Israel’s prompt action showed they trusted His word without delay. • This moment became a template for covenant life: hear, believe, act. Immediate Obedience Deepens Intimacy • Obedience affirms love. Jesus said, “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.” (John 14:21) • By acting “just as the LORD had commanded,” Israel moved from merely hearing about God to experiencing Him as Deliverer. • Intimacy grows when we respond quickly; delay often breeds distance. Trust Made Visible • The people slaughtered lambs before any sign of judgment. Their deeds shouted, “We believe You, Lord.” • Hebrews 11:28 notes, “By faith Moses kept the Passover… so that the destroyer would not touch their firstborn.” Faith and obedience are inseparable strands. • Visible trust invites deeper revelation—“The LORD confides in those who fear Him.” (Psalm 25:14) Protection Affirms Relationship • Obedience placed blood on the doorposts, and God passed over. Relationship was sealed in rescue. • Deuteronomy 6:24 explains the pattern: “The LORD commanded us… that He might preserve us alive, as we are today.” Preservation proves His fatherly care. Formation of Identity • Obedience forged a national memory: “Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:3) • Every future Passover retold how obedience birthed freedom, binding the people’s identity to God’s faithfulness. Continued Relevance for Us • James 1:22 urges, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Action still cements relationship. • 1 John 2:3–5 assures, “By this we know that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.” Obedient lives confirm genuine fellowship. • Each choice to follow Scripture—whether forgiving an enemy or guarding purity—echoes Israel’s doorway moment, keeping our walk vibrant. Practical Takeaways • Prompt obedience signals that we value God’s voice above all. • Obedience turns abstract faith into concrete experience, tightening the bonds of trust. • Through obedience we step under God’s protection and blessing, tasting His goodness firsthand. • Remembering past moments of obedience fuels future faithfulness, weaving a lifelong narrative of companionship with the Lord. |
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