Romans 13 – question 2
Obedience to Authority and Obedience to God Conflicts
While Romans 13:1-7 exhorts believers to respect civil authorities as instituted by God, the Bible also presents multiple examples where obedience to human rulers conflicts with faithfulness to God’s commandments. These accounts demonstrate that when the decrees of men oppose God’s will, believers must remain faithful to God first.
1. The Hebrew Midwives and Pharaoh’s Order (Exodus 1:15-21)
Context:
– Pharaoh commands the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all male newborns among the Israelites.
Dilemma:
– Obey Pharaoh and kill the Hebrew babies
– Disobey and let the children live.
The Midwives’ Response:
– « But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. » (Exodus 1:17)
Consequence:
– God blessed the midwives and gave them families (Exodus 1:20-21).
Obedience to human orders should never lead to violating divine law.
2. Moses Defying Pharaoh (Exodus 5-14)
Context:
– God commands Moses to demand that Pharaoh let Israel go.
Dilemma:
– Moses could submit to Pharaoh’s authority, who refused to release the Hebrews.
– Or he could obey God’s command and insist on Israel’s liberation.
Moses’ Response:
– He confronts Pharaoh repeatedly, asserting God’s authority.
– God punishes Egypt with the ten plagues, showing that God’s authority is supreme over human rulers.
Human leaders cannot override God’s sovereign plan.
3. Daniel and the Prohibition of Prayer (Daniel 6:6-23)
Context:
– King Darius issues a decree forbidding prayer to any deity except himself for 30 days.
Dilemma:
– Obey the king and cease praying.
– Disobey and continue worshiping God, risking death in the lions’ den.
Daniel’s Response:
– « When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. » (Daniel 6:10)
Consequence:
– Daniel is thrown into the lions’ den, but God miraculously protects him.
– The king ultimately acknowledges the Sovereignty of Daniel’s God.
Faithfulness to God must be maintained, even under the threat of persecution.
4. The Three Hebrews and Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Statue (Daniel 3:1-30)
Context:
King Nebuchadnezzar orders everyone to worship a massive golden statue or be thrown into a fiery furnace.
Dilemma:
– Obey the king and worship the idol.
– Remain faithful to God and refuse idolatry.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s Response:
– « We will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. » (Daniel 3:18)
Consequence:
– They are thrown into the fiery furnace, but God miraculously saves them.
– The king acknowledges the greatness of Israel’s God.
No earthly authority can force believers to commit idolatry.
5. Peter and John Refusing to Obey the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:18-20, 5:27-29)
Context:
– The Jewish authorities command the apostles to stop preaching about Jesus.
Dilemma:
– Remain silent and obey the religious leaders.
– Continue preaching and risk imprisonment.
Peter and John’s Response:
– « We must obey God rather than men. » (Acts 5:29)
Consequence:
– They are persecuted, but the Gospel spreads even further.
Preaching the Gospel cannot be compromised by human prohibitions.
6. Paul and Silas Imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:16-40)
Context:
– Paul and Silas are unjustly arrested and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel.
Dilemma:
– Accept their imprisonment.
– Proclaim their innocence and assert their rights as Roman citizens.
Paul and Silas’ Response:
– They worship God in prison, and an earthquake miraculously frees them.
– Paul invokes his Roman citizenship to demand justice and public acknowledgment of their wrongful imprisonment.
Defending one’s legal rights is not opposed to faithfulness to God.
Key Biblical Principles
These accounts reveal several essential biblical principles:
- Obedience to civil authorities is a general principle, but not an absolute rule
- Romans 13:1-7 calls for submission to government.
- But Acts 5:29 states that obedience to God takes precedence.
- When human laws contradict divine laws, obedience to God is imperative
- Examples: The Hebrew midwives, Daniel, the three Hebrews, and the apostles.
- God protects those who remain faithful
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were saved from the furnace.
- Daniel was delivered from the lions’ den.
- Peter and John continued their mission despite persecution.
- Persecution is a possible consequence of faithfulness to God
- Prophets, apostles, and even Jesus Himself faced opposition.
- Jesus warned His disciples of this reality (John 15:18-20).
Conclusion: A Balance Between Submission and Faithfulness
The Bible teaches that civil authorities are established by God (Romans 13:1-7), but obedience to God must always come first (Acts 5:29).
A Christian should:
- Respect and obey laws that do not contradict God’s commandments.
- Refuse to comply with orders that violate biblical truth.
- Be prepared to suffer the consequences of faithfulness to God.
In a world where laws sometimes oppose Christian values, these biblical principles remain highly relevant for discerning when and how a believer should respond to human authority.