Following God’s Rules – It’s For Your Own Good

Last year I set out to read the bible in its entirety. It was the first time I read the entire thing cover to cover and it was truly eye-opening. I found a lot of new things I didn’t know, pieced together a few other things, and simply learned a lot.

But, I certainly didn’t learn it all. So this year I wanted to continue my yearly reading. Rather than cover to cover though, this year I am reading through chronologically. And even though I read all of these words last year I still find myself picking up on new things each and every day. Even though I have already read it before, some parts seem brand new.

I think that is the point. Just as Jesus used parables in the New Testament to ensure those with spiritual ears would truly hear His words and understand, I believe that God opens our eyes to new things all throughout the Bible when we are ready to understand them. When we have the spiritual mind and growth to learn, understand, and apply these truths.

Because even if these truths aren’t new, to the reader who is finally getting it, they are. Even though these truths have been around for years, to the person who truly saw them for the first time they are like a rare find. A gem amongst all the stories and lessons and rules.

Not that long ago, I found just such a gem.

Same Words, New Meaning

Picture this: here I am sitting in the morning on the couch, a cup of tea and bible in hand. This particular morning I was reading from my study bible. I actually like it better than my other one because it has related verses and concordance information in the middle of each page. There is also historical information, history of the author, and theme details at the beginning of each book. I like having all the extra information at my fingertips because it helps me find more in the verses.

This particular morning, I was in Deuteronomy. The last book of Moses and a more detailed explanation of the Law. Throughout the book, we hear Moses telling the children of Isreal how they are to live and worship. He is reminding the Israelites to both remember and teach the Law, and all the mercies of God.

Then, in chapter 10, I come across some verses and stop.

Did I just read that?

So I reread the last couple of verses and sure enough, what I thought I read I did.

Of all the places, of all the snippets, of all the words in the whole world, I just read something that most parents would relate to saying to their own children.

I know I have said this many times.

Yet right there in the middle of Deuteronomy chapter 10, I found the phrase “for your good.”

Do My Eyes Deceive Me?

Well there. My own words looking back at me. As a Mom, I often tell my kids to do things simply for their own good. Everything from finishing their chores, to eating their vegetables, to looking both ways before they cross the street. Many of the rules and expectations in our home are literally set up for the children’s own good. What books we read, movies we watch, and even friends we have are for their (and our) own good.

So why is Moses talking about the Israelites own good? Why have I not seen this, or at least not remembered seeing this before? Why, of all days, did this verse happen to jump out at me like a lightning bolt of brand new information? Completely unexpected yet exactly what I needed to see and hear.

Time To Dig Deeper

One of the first things I always do when a verse jumps out at me like that is to start reading more about it. This is where having a study bible comes in handy and one of the reasons I love having mine.

The first thing I found was that the word “good” in verse 13 of Deuteronomy 10 has other meanings. This word good isn’t just talking about something that is good, or a job well done. It’s not something that is good like a hot cup of coffee on a cold day or sitting down to relax after a long one.

Rather, this good is more along the lines of benefit or welfare. The phrase “for thy good” is more along the lines of for your benefit, for your own welfare.

And that’s exactly what I mean when I speak to my own children about the rules in our home. We don’t place restrictions on things to be mean or prevent them from having fun and enjoying their days. No, we set boundaries because we know what’s on the other side. We can see the potential danger of running out into the road. The necessity of completing chores. And even the possibility of danger with choosing the wrong friends.

So What Is “For My Own Good”?

To answer that, we need to look at the rest of both verses 12 and 13. See 13 ends with “for thy good” and it’s all the preceding details that explain what or why is for our own good.

Verse 12 states, “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all they heart and with all thy soul,” And verse 13 continues this thought with, “To keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? (emphasis mine)“

These two verses are actually a question. Moses has just finished rehashing and emphasizing the mercies of God on the Israelites and he then asks the question what does the Lord really require of you? What does God ask you to do that is so hard to do? Is it really too challenging to respect God, follow His guidance, love and serve Him, keep His commandments and rules?

Oh, and doing so is actually for your benefit.

Moses is reminding the Israelites that God’s way, all of His rules and requests, are not arbitrary and ridiculous. They are not designed to stop the Israelites from living a full life, rather to keep them separate from the things of this world. They are the guidelines He has established and as long as the Israelites stay within the guardrails that God created they will be fine.

And you will too.

Where Have I Heard This Before?

If you have never read through Deuteronomy you may not be familiar with this passage. And even if you have, you could be like me and not really saw it or stopped to think about what this means.

But I am willing to be you may be thinking that this sounds familiar.

Jesus said something quite similar to what Moses said when He was addressing the Pharisees and Sadducees. In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus responded to questions about the greatest commandment with this: “Though shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…” verse 37.

And He was actually quoting the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 6:5 to be exact.

Loving God, and following His rules is nothing new. Yet, since shortly after mankind’s creation we have been breaking rules and looking for a way out. Adam and Even had just one rule, to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17), and even that proved to be too much. The clear punishment of death was not enough to prevent them both from eating from the tree.

So are we going to succumb to the temptations of the world? Are we going to go outside the guidelines that God has laid for us and do our own thing? Or, are we going to try and live out a love of God and prove it by keeping His commandments (John 14:15), for our own good?