Official Site | Author Paula Wiseman
On today's menu we have 'guidance'. More subtle than commands, God often gives us principles or examples to point us in the right direction without the imperative verb. Then He tends to leave the choice of how to proceed to the reader.
There are three main places to find 'guidance'-type writing: Proverbs, parables and personal stories.
Proverbs
In Proverbs 15:1, it reads "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." No overt command, just an observation, a principle. It's up to you to choose a soft answer or a harsh word.
In Proverbs 17:28, we find, "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace." (But I'm blogging anyway.)
Just from these two verses, we get the principle that what we say, when we say it and the tone matters. Not hard, fast commands, but a general principle
Parables
Jesus told dozens of stories and made quick comparisons to make a point. Most of the time, He let the story stand, but occasionally, He explained the idea behind the story. Whole books and even seminary courses are devoted to analyzing the parables, and I don't want to go into too much detail here. When reading them, it's usually best to look for one main point and not try to make symbols out of every element.
Some quick examples:
Personal stories
God didn't leave us a manual or a rule book. He left us a story book with portraits of real people. It's up to us to take away lessons or cautions from the biographies presented. In the early chapters of Genesis, we read the story of Noah, and God's miraculous provision for him and his family in the face of total judgment. However, soon after, God includes the story of Noah's drunkenness. Why? Maybe as a warning against drinking. Maybe a caution that failure often follows close behind victory. Maybe to tell us Noah still needed that grace, that he wasn't perfect.
What guidance have you found in Scripture that didn't come in a direct command?
Lord I want to obey You,
not just when others are watching.
Lord, I want to obey You,
not just for the hope of a reward.
Lord, I want to obey You,
not just out of a sense of duty.
I want to obey You
out of love,
out of a genuine desire to honor and glorify You.
I want to obey with a pure heart.
Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, that I might not be ashamed. Psalm 119:80
A couple of weeks ago, my Sunday school boys and I got to look at one of my all-time favorite stories– the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14. Let me share some of my observations.
Anxiety
Verse 8 says Israel went out of Egypt "with boldness". However, at the first sign of difficulty, that confidence evaporated. In Exodus 14, God was working His purpose for the nation of Israel and He was accomplishing a separate purpose for Egypt. (see v. 18) Those two intersected at the Red Sea.
I often head down the path God lays out for me, but when trouble arises, I question the path, the purpose, my faith and God Himself. However, it may all be part of another plan for another situation. I need to hang in there.
Panic
Faced with an elite army bearing down on them, Israel panicked. They lost it. They turned on Moses. They longed for slavery. They forgot they had over 600,000 fighting men of their own (according to Numbers 1). They couldn't remember the miracles God had just performed on their behalf through the plagues. All they could focus on was the enemy and their vision of certain defeat and slaughter. Moses says, "Stand still (or as I like to paraphrase it- shut up!) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today."
I lose focus. I panic. I forget. I need to stop running in circles, waving my arms like the kid in Home Alone. He may not resolve the entire situation today, but He will show up on my behalf. God will deliver.
Hesitation
In spite of that awesome guarantee, God had to nudge Israel. Verse 15 He says, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward." God gave the direction, He promised protection, and yet it wasn't enough. Crossing the Red Sea had never been done before. Slavery was miserable and oppressive, but at least they knew what to expect. God says, "Move forward."
With boldness. See the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today. Move forward.
We've been looking at the different "types" of statements for in Scripture. So far we've considered God's promises, looking for those "I will" statements that He makes. Last week, we discussed the long (boring) sections of straight factual information and what encouragement those might have for us. Today, let's consider the commands.
One of the complaints folks often give about the Bible is that it's just a collection of "thou shalt nots". In fact, there are far more positive commands in God's word. Generally, they are easy to find.
Look for verbs. After God created Adam and Eve, He blessed them, then He issued His first command. "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…" (Genesis 1:28) See all those verbs? Be… multiply… fill… subdue… If you remember back to English class, that was the imperative form of the verb. The speaker expects the listener to take action.
Now, there's a caution- not every command is for us. I'm not trying to weasel out of certain commands. However, context is critical to our understanding of any passage. So when you look for those imperative verbs…
Look for application. When God called Moses, He gave him some incredible signs to perform to validate his message. "Cast [your rod] on the ground," God said, and the rod became a snake. Then God said, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." When Moses did, the snake became his rod once again. (Exodus 4:3-4). Does that mean we should throw down sticks, expecting them to transform? Or can we grab snakes by the tail? Of course not. God's instructions were exclusively for Moses in that situation.
On the other hand, Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Did that just apply to the group listening that particular day? That one is an open invitation to all hearers and readers.
How do you tell the difference? I haven't reviewed EVERY command, but some guidelines that may help are…
"Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken to a wise man who builds his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24)
