Topical Bible: Obedience: The Israelites

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Obedience is a central theme in the narrative of the Israelites as depicted in the Bible. The Israelites' relationship with God is often characterized by a cycle of obedience, disobedience, and the consequences that follow. This entry explores the concept of obedience as it pertains to the Israelites, drawing from various biblical accounts and teachings.

Covenant and Commandments

The foundation of the Israelites' call to obedience is rooted in the covenant established between God and Abraham, and later reaffirmed with Moses and the nation of Israel. In Genesis 17:1-2 , God commands Abraham, "Walk before Me and be blameless, that I may make My covenant between Me and you and multiply you greatly." This covenantal relationship is further solidified at Mount Sinai, where God gives the Ten Commandments to Moses as a guide for righteous living (Exodus 20:1-17).

The Law and Obedience

The Law, given through Moses, serves as a comprehensive guide for the Israelites, detailing how they are to live in obedience to God. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 encapsulates the essence of this obedience: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." The Shema, as this passage is known, underscores the importance of wholehearted devotion and obedience to God.

Blessings and Curses

The book of Deuteronomy outlines the blessings that follow obedience and the curses that result from disobedience. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 promises, "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God." Conversely, disobedience leads to dire consequences, as detailed in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.

Historical Examples of Obedience and Disobedience

Throughout their history, the Israelites experience periods of both obedience and disobedience. The conquest of Jericho under Joshua's leadership is a notable example of obedience, where the Israelites follow God's specific instructions and achieve victory (Joshua 6:1-21). In contrast, the incident of the golden calf represents a significant act of disobedience, where the Israelites turn away from God shortly after receiving the Law (Exodus 32:1-6).

Prophets and Calls to Obedience

The prophets play a crucial role in calling the Israelites back to obedience. Figures like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel admonish the people for their disobedience and urge them to return to God. Isaiah 1:19-20 states, "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." The prophets emphasize that true obedience involves not just external compliance but a heartfelt commitment to God's ways.

The New Covenant and Obedience

The concept of obedience evolves with the promise of a new covenant, as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah 31:33 declares, "But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people." This new covenant, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, emphasizes an internal transformation that leads to genuine obedience.

Conclusion

The narrative of the Israelites serves as a profound illustration of the importance of obedience in the life of faith. Through their experiences, the Bible teaches that obedience to God is not merely a matter of following rules but is a response of love and devotion to the One who is faithful to His promises.

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Exodus 12:28
And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
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Exodus 32:25-29
And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked to their shame among their enemies:)
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Exodus 39:42,43
According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.
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Numbers 9:20,21
And so it was, when the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they stayed in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.
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Deuteronomy 33:9
Who said to his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brothers, nor knew his own children: for they have observed your word, and kept your covenant.
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Judges 2:7
And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
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Psalm 99:7
He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
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Library

On Particular Acts of Obedience, or those which are Prescribed in ...
... of suasion, why the children of Israel ought to yield obedience to Jehovah ... in the
description which is added " that Egypt was to the Israelites "the house of ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxxiii on particular acts.htm

"The House of Israel"
... These promises were conditional on obedience. The sins that had characterized
the Israelites prior to the captivity, were not to be repeated. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 59 the house of.htm

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
... And so it was with the Israelites in the desert. All depended on their
obedience. God had given them a law"a constitution, as ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xiii korah dathan and.htm

Obedience to God the Way to Faith in Christ.
... to believe in Him, ordinarily implies that we are living in obedience to God. ... Paul
addressed the Israelites and those who feared God, not the mere thoughtless ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xiv obedience to god.htm

How, after the Death of Joshua their Commander, the Israelites ...
... But the Israelites, though they were in heaviness at these admonitions from God,
yet were ... they exhorted them to do what they ought to do in obedience to their ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how after the.htm

The Obedience of Faith
... who had wilfully disobeyed his Lord, for as many years as the Israelites in the ... If
he, then, promised to run in an hour's time, would you call that obedience? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the obedience of faith.htm

"Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge"
... The Israelites had been specially charged not to lose sight of the commandments
of God, in obedience to which they would find strength and blessing. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 24 destroyed for lack.htm

The Chosen People
... By the Babylonish captivity the Israelites were effectually cured of the worship
of ... became fixed that their prosperity depended upon their obedience to the law ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 2 the chosen people.htm

Christ the Great Physician.
... Their faith leads them to Him, where the healing power is applied, as the look brought
the Israelites to the healing power of God. Our obedience that brings us ...
/.../viii christ the great physician.htm

Index.
... Partial obedience, 96. ... 581-Objections answered, 585-Paul's shipwreck, 595-Place for
fear, 602-Saul, 605-David, 606"Solomon, 606-Israelites, 608-Passages ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/systematic theology/index 2.htm