Benard Oko Kagaga
Studying through the book of Genesis, reaching the end you will find the Israelites in the land of slavery (Gen. 50:20-21). Folks this did not just happen, but it happened with a purpose, disobedience. And in that land they “were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them” (Exod. 1:7). In their slavery land, the LORD said, “behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.” (Exod. 3:9) and He sent His spoke man to the king of that land (vv. 10-13) but the king being stubborn, asked, “Who is the LORD, that I should Obey His Voice?” (Exod. 5:2). The implication over this king’s is the rejection of God’s command. At long last they were released from that land “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go” (Exod. 13:17) after bad things has happened in his kingdom.
At the foot of Mount Sinai they were given the law to guide them (Exod. 19:1-2). The LORD said the ark was to be carried by priests (Num. 4:5-15), one who is not a priest was not to touch it (v. 15), but they said, “Who is the LORD, that I should Obey His Voice?” and they acted against God’s will (2 Sam. 6:6-7). Two great errors were made here; they moved the Ark not in accordance with a “Thus saith the LORD” and Uzzah, not a priest, touched the Ark. Folks this question is not always verbally asked, but is seen by the action of people. Adam and Eve, people at the Tower of Babel, Nadab and Abihu all these expressed this question in action.
May the writer put this before you as a surprise that the question is still going on with the world and the church today. When the Lord says, baptism is necessary for our salvation (Acts 2:28; 1 Pet. 3:21), the voice of the people asks “who is the LORD, that we should Obey His Voice?”—especially denominations and some unfaithful brethren in the church through their actions.
The Lord has commanded the church to discipline the unruly Christians (2 Thess. 3:6), the voice has come out, who is the LORD, that we should obey His voice? Faithful churches of our Lord are practicing church discipline for the sake of lost souls (Eph. 4:15).
The God of heaven demands purity of marriage of His people (Matt. 19:9) but you say who is the LORD, that we should obey His voice? You say, you can be separated because of poverty, sickness and other but when things gets better you will marry the wife of your choice.
The creator of all has said there is one church (Eph. 4:4; Matt. 16:18) He bought with His own blood (Acts 20:28) and He will save only that one church (Eph. 5:23) and you say who is the LORD, that we should obey His voice? One church is as good as another. The writer believes, for there is one church, there is no other to be compared with it, but one denomination is just as another for they are all taking people to hell.
When the God of heaven says, we are to sing during our worship (col. 3:16), you are saying who is the LORD, that we should obey His voice? We are to add instrumental music into our worship to keep our youths. Folks do not forget the strange fire (Lev. 10:1-2) which consumed these two men. They died because they added to God’s command, how will “we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (Heb. 2:3) we will die too (Rom. 6:23). Preaching “the word” (2 Tim. 4:2) only is what will keep our youths informed of the danger of the world and being soft, compromising “the faith” (Jude 3). They will see the purpose of their calling and keep that walk (Eph. 4:1). They will know that, they were called for “the defense and confirmation of the gospel” (Phil. 1:7b) to the uncalled, saved to save the unsaved and redeemed to redeem unredeemed.
Folks if you are still asking, “Who is the LORD, that I should Obey His Voice?” He is saying, “For I am the LORD your God” (Lev. 11:44a) “hear my words” (Deut. 4:10). There is one gospel (Gal. 1:6-9) and it is the gospel that saves (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-2) if truly believed and shown by action, being “baptized for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16). And for “there is one body” (Eph. 4:4) the church of Christ (Matt. 16:18), the Lord will add you into His church (Acts 2:47) and you will keep on keeping on walking faithfully looking unto the life beyond the blues, the life to come after this when the Lord will take His to the place He has prepared for them (John 14:1-3). Do not procrastinate for “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2b). So “hear ye him.” (Matt. 17:5) for not everybody will go to heaven as He said only, “he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21b).
