Freedom Series: the divine perspective (Part 6)
Freedom constrained
Freedom Series recap
1.God grants freedom with one caveat
God granted the first couple perfect freedom constrained only by His command that they not seek independence from Him. If they did, death would ensue. This freedom was (and is) “perfect” because God is perfect in all His ways including His love for humankind and His desire to provide for all our needs in the best possible way to ensure our flourishing. In His love for humankind, however, He granted the freedom to choose between obedience and disobedience. [link]
2.Humankind rejects God-ordained freedom
The first couple disobeyed this one commandment and, as a consequence, died spiritually (immediately) and physically (in due course). Their quest for freedom from dependence on God separated them from Him because their spirits were dead. And, ironically, their rebellion resulted in the most pernicious form of enslavement, the human predisposition to sin. [link]
3.With unconstrained freedom, sin reigns
Having died spiritually and absent moral constraints, the human race rapidly spiraled downward to the point that God decided to wipe out humanity through the great flood. However, God found favor with Noah, who responded to God’s grace by building an ark according to His instructions. As a result, God preserved the family line of the one who would ultimately rescue humanity from sin (the “Rescuer”) by sparing Noah and his family from death. [link]
Next step: God constrains freedom by instituting His moral law in Israel
Given the inevitable outcome of completely unfettered individual freedom, God determined to preserve the human race pending the arrival of the Rescuer. Following the flood, He chose individuals beginning with Abram (renamed Abraham) who believed Him and were willing to obey His directives. In due course, He instituted guardrails on human behavior as a preservative against the caustic effects of human sin including societal constraints on individual freedom while preserving free will.
God instituted guardrails on human behavior as a preservative against the caustic effects of human sin including societal constraints on individual freedom while preserving free will.
These guardrails were codified in the Ten Commandments delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai as well as in many other derivative commandments set forth in the Hebrew Scriptures. God’s purpose was twofold, the first being to provide the means of relating to Him. The system prescribed in the Old Covenant established the levitical priesthood through whom sacrifices for sin were to be offered up to God. God’s second purpose was to preserve the family line of the Rescuer through societal guardrails intended to incentivize individuals not to sin against others and to deal with those who do so.
Among His intentions, God wanted the Israelites to be distinctive from the pagan cultures around them. Most importantly, God’s planned Messiah from Israel’s line would pay the price for the sin of humankind, thereby opening the door to reconciliation with God and the true freedom God intended from creation.
While God’s plan was to rule directly over the nation of Israel, the people rebelled against Him and ultimately demanded a king like the surrounding pagan peoples. The prophet Samuel warned them about the downside of this demand but ultimately acceded to their request and anointed Saul, the first of Israel's many kings. Over the following centuries, some kings were godly but most were not. As a result and pursuant to God’s warnings, the Israelites were conquered by pagan nations and exiled from their land.
Next, we will explore the contrast between God’s and today’s civil constraints on freedom.
Photo by Sean Foster on Unsplash
