Proverbs 29:18 “Without a prophetic vision, the people throw off all restraint; but he who keeps Torah is happy.”

Have you ever told someone to do something repeatedly and yet they do what they want, totaling ignoring your request or rule?

Have you ever found yourself cleaning up the mess that someone else made because they did not follow the rules?

Have you ever found yourself working the load of someone else because they are not doing their allotted portion?

God gives us rules.  These rules are here for our own protection and for the protection of others.  As human beings, we like to resist rules especially when we do not know that these rules are there for our own good.  Many times, we look at the commandments of God as rules and regulations and laws.  In Hebrew the word for commandment is Torah/ mitzvah.

Torah   תורה Means instruction on how to live, teach, direction, custom, guidance.  It comes from the word Yara and many times, this word is translated as law. 

Mitzvah מצווה Means good deed, doing good to others. Actually, these commandments are not called commandments in Hebrew, but they are known as the ten words. (Asaret Hadbarim)

Exodus 34:28 “…..עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת הַדְּבָרִֽים “….[Adonai] wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Words.” CJB

Many times, we look at rules and direction as a burden and we don’t want to follow the rules because we feel like someone is telling us what to do.  However, these words are set there for instruction on how to live a good life even in times of tribulation.

In 2016, a year a 17-year-old was killed by a drunk driver in Detroit.  The rule is don’t drive while drinking but 43 Sterling Heights, a firefighter for 15 years decided to ignore this rule.  The alcohol level was twice the driving limit killing one person and injuring himself.  His disobedience to ignore the rule will forever change his life and the lives of the family of the 17-year-old.  That evening her parents were waiting for her to give her a new car.  How sad is this, what a tragedy.  What a price to pay for disobedience.

In October of 2015 a five-year-old boy was killed because of human sacrifice in India (Andhra, Pradesh).  The same thing happens to a boy in Uganda.  People buy or steal other human beings because they believe the sacrifice will get them richer. 

A pastor was stabbed to death by a member of the church while going to his house to pray in Monterey California on March 16, 2017.

The people involved in these acts did not follow the rules.  People outside of the will of God are living their own lives and are not concern about their actions and how it affects the people around them.  The scriptures tell us to love our neighbor.

Matthew 22:39 “And a second is similar to it, ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’” CJB

The children of Israel continuously ignored the instruction and warnings of God causing them to be continuously seized and overtaken.  On one of the occasions the consequences brought a major famine so horrible that a woman boiled her son and ate him.  This woman obviously did not know God.  She did not follow the rules.  Her decision caused death. 2 kings 6:24-29

When we are in disobedience we do not know how to act or what to do.  We do not have any will power or self-control.

What is disobedience? Disobedience is being disrespectful.  It is refusing to obey the rules or someone in authority such as God.

Look at David and the census.  His decision afflicted all Israel. Read about it in 1 Chronicles 21:1-17 and 2 Samuel 24:1-4.

The Lord tells us that if we follow the rules, we will be blessed but if we don’t follow the rules we are cursed. Deuteronomy 28 list the blessing and the curses.  Let’s mention just a small part

Deuteronomy 28:58-52 “⁵⁸ “If you will not observe and obey all the words of this Torah that are written in this book, so that you will fear this glorious and awesome name, Adonai your God; ⁵⁹ then Adonai will strike down you and your descendants with extraordinary plagues and severe sicknesses that go on and on. ⁶⁰ He will bring back upon you all the diseases the Egyptians had, which you were in dread of; and they will cling to you. ⁶¹ Not only that, but Adonai will bring upon you all the sicknesses and plagues that are not written in this book of the Torah until you are destroyed. ⁶² You will be left few in number, whereas you were once as numerous as the stars in the sky because you did not pay attention to the voice of Adonai your God.” CJB

Deuteronomy 28:11-14 “¹¹ “Adonai will give you great abundance of good things of the fruit of your body, the fruit of your livestock and the fruit of your land in the land Adonai swore to your ancestors to give you. ¹² Adonai will open for you his good treasure, the sky, to give your land its rain at the right seasons and to bless everything you undertake. You will lend to many nations and not borrow; ¹³ Adonai will make you the head and not the tail; and you will be only above, never below  if you will listen to, observe and obey the mitzvot of Adonai your God ¹⁴ and not turn away from any of the words I am ordering you today, neither to the right nor to the left, to follow after other gods and serve them.”  CJB

So, let’s follow the rules from the smallest item to the big.  Pay attention to your life.  Pay attention to your surroundings.  Working together, doing our parts, encouraging each other, living in harmony, loving by action.  These things are hard to do because they take time, effort, and most of all humbleness.  The humbleness of accepting Yeshua the Messiah as our salvation. So, let’s stay united with God in our actions and behavior.

Accept Yeshua today and when there is tribulation in your life; Yeshua is there to help you overcome. Today is the day; don’t make a decision without HIM.