And the Bible gave me a gentle nudge – Submission (2/3)

Submission – the joy of relying on the rightful Master

When we read the Word of the Father from Genesis to Revelation, there is a strong message for us: SUBMIT.

This word carries a negative meaning nowadays, doesn’t it? It’s uncomfortable to say it or to feel it. We are raised ‘to be independent’, specially women feel like they have something to prove by ‘solving their own problems’ or ‘being strong’. For most of us, to be submissive to someone is derogatory. But is it really?

To submit requires trust, to surrender to a protector and it requires most of all, obedience.

The first humans created, Adam and Eve, learned the hard way that ‘doing things their way’ and disobeying was the wrong choice and the Bible repeats the warning in countless other examples. The Israelite who would not follow the Father’s instructions during battle, or the idolatrous kings who decided to turn their backs to Yahuah. There is even a recurrent adjective that Yahuah uses to refer to his proud children: stiff-necked.

What the stiff-necked people of the Bible might not have noticed is that whether we like it or not, we all end up submitting, for that's how we were made to behave. There is never complete independence (unless you're this guy). So the question is: to whom are we submitting? Sadly in our current sick world, people seem to prefer to surrender to worldly powers, but this is nothing new; Israel also chose to submit to a king rather than trusting their Father.

'Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Yahuah.

And Yahuah said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:4-9)

In case we are submitting to worldly powers such as government, a boss or a cooperation... but do these institutions mean trust and love to me and my family? Would any of the people representing them die for me? We know that our Messiah already died for his lambs, so isn't he more deserving of submission?

The Bible offers us instructions on the ideal hierarchy. The children report to their mother, the woman reports to her man, a man reports to the Messiah and the Messiah reports to our Maker, Yahuah Tseva'oth (Lord of Hosts). This submission is not a negative thing, it’s an organization. We have a similar approach in any company. If a woman feels reasonable to submit to a boss, why wouldn't she feel in peace submitting to her man? Should children feel entitled to be rebellious towards their mother because they're too proud to submit to their parents?

Submission is our way to be protected and we should submit to a person we trust, admire – and this trust comes from the fact that this person always has our best interest in mind and takes the responsibility to protect his/her people seriously.

Who has our best interest in mind? It's the Creator and Owner of it all, Yahuah. He wrote our story from beginning to end, he knows the number of hairs on our heads, He made us the way we are and gave us everything we have. He also disciplines us when needed, out of love. And there is also His most trusted man, our Messiah, to show us the way to eternal life.

And just as Yahusha (Jesus) takes care of his lambs, the head of the family should take care of his people. In our current times this might sound eccentrical, but this is the biblical family concept. Even when we are not married, we should still submit to Yahusha and trust his love and direction. We can of course chose not to, but when life goes wrong, we only have ourselves to blame.

The Father asks us to show our love by submitting joyfully to him - the one who truly loves us and knows what's best. As we trust His decisions and put our lives in the rightful hands, submission becomes peace of mind. So why not? ;)