In Deuteronomy 4 Moses is urging the nation of Israel to obey the laws that the Lord has given to them. And in verse 6 he says this, “Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!’”
Moses says that one of the benefits of obeying God’s law is that the other nations on the earth will observe that Israel lives differently. The law will display “wisdom and intelligence”. Isn’t that interesting? The Law will display the glory of God among the peoples of the earth. The Law will not be a strange set of rules to keep Israel in line but rather will create admiration and respect. Other nations will recognize that this is not an ordinary god that they serve. And that these people are “wise and prudent.”
Through the law, the nations will see the wisdom of the Lord. The law of the Lord and Israel’s obedience to the Law will be a testimony to the living God.
Deuteronomy 28 makes a similar statement. Moses writes in verses 9-10, “If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord, and they will stand in awe of you.”
Obedience to the commands of God leads to a world taking notice. The world will see that this nation is the One True God’s people. Obedience to God points people to God.
This makes me think of Matthew 5:16, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” When we live before God in obedience to him the world oberves this and not in a casually way but in a way that they are drawn to God and begin to worship God.
How many times have Christians walked in disobedience to God and then the non-believing world wants nothing to do with God? How many times do Christians disregard God and then wonder why the world wants nothing to do with us?
When God gives us His law, it is not because he wants to keep us in line. It is not because he wants to rule us with a iron fist. His law reflects his nature and character. His law relfects what is true and good and right and perfect. And he wants us to live out what is true and good and right and perfect. His law allows us to live before him that shows that we belong to Him.
But His law also does something else. His allows us to proclaim to an unbelieivng world the very character of God. We get to put on display the truth and goodness and righteousness of God for all to see. Sometimes we feel like the instructions of the word of God separate us from the world in a strange way. It causes people to view us as weird. And sometimes it does. But Scripture tells us is that ultimately reflecting the heart of draws before to God. Our set aside life because a testimony.
Obediecne to the law of God is an act of evangelism. Through our obedience to God in all things we have the privilege of living evangelistic lives proclaiming to the world the One True God. May we walk humbly and righly before our God in a manner that the world sees the glory of God and in turn gives Him glory.