Exodus 24:1–4: Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. 2 Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.” 3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
God made a powerful revelation to Moses and the Israelites as they fled Egypt through the Red Sea. He gave them His laws (Exodus 19–23), which Jesus would later summarize in two commands: love God supremely and love others sacrificially.
When Moses delivered this revelation, the leaders and people of Israel wholeheartedly consented to the law, enthusiastically promising obedience. As Exodus 24:3 says, “Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.‘”
As a believer in Christ, I see this same pattern in myself. I am quick to agree with God and His law, promising obedience. Yet, like the Israelites, I am often surprised by how quickly I fall into disobedience. One moment, I am broken and penitent; the next, I am actively engaged in sin.
This struggle is most intense when God doesn’t operate on MY timeline—when He delays, rushes me, or doesn’t do what I want. (You know you do this too! Sometimes, we expect God to be our personal genie.) Our human nature craves control, seeking to be our own god, our own master. My behavior mirrors that of Israel: “When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, ‘Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him‘” (Exodus 32:1).
How Can I Choose Obedience Over Disobedience?
Submit to the Word Daily (Hebrews 4:12–13)
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.“
Examine My Heart Daily (Psalm 139:23–24)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Jeremiah 17:10) “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.“
Yield to God in Repentance (James 4:7–10)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Pray Humbly for Deliverance (Matthew 6:13)
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 26:41) “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.“
Walk in Agreement with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16–17) “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
When Sin Happens…
Stop: Don’t ignore or justify it—pause and face it.
Repent Sooner: Keep short accounts with God; don’t let sin linger.
Admit I Am Wrong: Confession brings freedom and restores fellowship.
Course Correct Fast: Don’t let a sinful habit take root—change direction quickly.
Desire Fellowship with God More Than Fleshly Satisfaction: Let intimacy with God be your deepest longing, not fleeting pleasure.
By recognizing these patterns and taking intentional steps, we can move from quick disobedience to faithful obedience, drawing closer to God each day.
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