A Dilemma

"I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery.

"No other gods, only me.

"No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me." Exodus 20:2-5 MSG

Whether you are a follower of YHVH (Yahweh), or of YHVH through Yeshua (Jesus), we have a common interest in holding to this first commandment—We are not to bow down to or serve anyone or anything other than YHVH.

What does that mean or involve?

"the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Matthew 4:8-9

The devil was looking to have Yeshua do as he was suggesting, to obey or submit to him, evidenced by bowing to him. The Hebrew work translated worship means "bow down to."

"you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire." Daniel 3:5-7

In the case of Daniel's three friends, the essence of the king's requirement was obedience, and failure to obey was rewarded with being burned alive.

"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey."Romans 6:16 NIV

Paul here presents the principle that obedience constitutes servitude. When we obey anyone or anything we, in essence, consent to be their slave.

We are expected to obey YHVH alone.

Yeshua has summarized YHVH's requirements as:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

Paul adds clarity to this when he writes:

"Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Romans 13:10

So where do we stand when we are "asked," “expected,” or “ ordered" to obey thousands upon thousands of statutes made by bodies politic (corporations) which have little to nothing to do with harm to other people?

• According to God’s laws, when you have (past tense) harmed your neighbour you must make reparation.
• According to most of man’s corporate statutes, codes, and regulations, you must pay a fine because you might harm your neighbour.

Can you see the difference? The first is remedial, i.e. righting a wrong which was committed, the second is preemptive, i.e., you must pay a fine because you offended the rules of a corporation. The first is justice, the second is merely commerce.

These statutes, codes, and regulations are simply for commercial gain.

©2020, Dr Steven Bydeley, a man.

All publishing rights reserved. Permission is herewith granted to reprint this article for personal use and to link or refer to it; however, no commercial re-publishing of the material in this article is permitted without prior written consent.

Steven is the author of Fathered by God and with his wife Dianne, co-author of Dream Dreams and Dreams the Heal and Counsel. He has been a guest on the Miracle Channel, Trinity Television, and Crossroads Communication, and has taught internationally on various topics.

Without Prejudice. © 2023, Steven., house of bij de Leij., of man.