Following Directions
February 11, 2001
Dear Friends:
Once when I was in eighth grade, the teacher gave us a surprise test. Before giving the test, she made a special emphasis that we needed to follow the instructions very carefully. I suspected that something was up. The first instruction of the test said “Before taking the test, read every question carefully.” Being a little suspicious, I followed this instruction reading through probably 30 math problems. Imagine my surprise when I read the last instruction. It read “Sit quietly and ignore all of the instructions in this test except the first one.” It was fun to sit there the rest of the class as many of my classmates wondered at incredible speed at taking the test.
Typically, if the box says “Please read and follow directions”, I interpret that to mean “If everything else fails, read the directions.” If it is a bottle of over-the-counter drugs, I skip to the part about how much I can take. If it is some machine or device, I will consult the manual only if and when I can’t figure it out myself.
A Biblical account I find amusing because it is so typical of human nature is when the children of Israel are getting the instructions from Moses concerning manna. “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not.’” God tells the children of Israel to gather the manna and “Let no one leave any of it over until morning.” (Ex. 16:19 NRSV) What do the children of Israel do? The Bible says “they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul.” (v.20)
Next, Moses tells them that they need to gather twice as much preceding the Sabbath day as there will be no manna on the Sabbath. The manna would not rot overnight like the other days. You already know what is coming, don’t you? The Bible says “On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, and they found none.”
My experience has taught me that one instruction book that I cannot ignore is the instruction book of life, the Holy Bible. Every time I ignore it, I get into trouble. But, like the children of Israel, I sometimes have to find out the hard way.
The Bible not only tells us the instructions to inherit eternal life, but it gives us the answers to all of today’s problems. Sure, many of the answers may be tucked away in some obscure passage. But make no mistake about it, the instructions are there. The Bible says of itself “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16,17)
Let’s see if we can follow God’s instructions any better than the children of Israel. “Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Josh. 22:5)
Have a good week!
Comments»
No comments yet.