Civil Disobedience

Sometimes I (half) jokingly refer to myself as a Rule Breaker. I blame my Mother.  While driving me to college my Freshman year (while I was still 17, mind you), she informed me that most Rules are really more strong suggestions. Note: she waited until I LEFT HOME to inform me of this little Life Nugget.

She was an Odd Duck. (In the very BEST way — at her funeral, she wanted be sure the pastor said, “The shell is still here, but the NUT is gone!” )

In church yesterday, I realized that the Bible is FULL of Rule Breakers. Some might even call them the Forefathers of Civil Disobedience.

 

Shadrack, Meeshach & Abednego didn’t comply by bowing down to Nebuchadnezzar’s gold idols, were sent into the fire as 3, & came out as 4. ↓

Daniel didn’t comply with King Darius’ command to pray to no one but him for 30 days, & was thrown to the Lion’s Den for his disobedience.

The Israelite Midwives & Moses’ mother didn’t comply when they continued to deliver baby boys, which went against the Egyptian king’s edict.

Esther saved her people from certain death, by approaching the King without being summoned, which was against the law. (“If I perish, I perish.”)

Even Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, went against the norm when he didn’t break his engagement from Mary.

The Wise Men, after seeing Jesus, ignore King Herod’s order to return to him to tell him where Jesus can be found. Instead, they take a different route home.

 

Peter & John were ordered to stop preaching the Gospel of Jesus. And then kept on preaching upon being released from prison (for preaching the Gospel). Paul was also arrested for preaching the Gospel, & then witnessed to the guards while he was imprisoned.