To Obey God or Man?

Based on a tract from Peter Hammond (Frontline)

The Scriptures command general obedience to family, church, and civil governing authorities (see Romans 13:1–4; 1 Tim. 2:1–2; 1 Peter 2:13–15). In the event of conflict between the Law of God and the law of man, the believer must follow God.

“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge; for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

— Acts 4:19–20

Some Biblical Examples of Disobeying Civil Authorities

1. The Midwives disobeyed Pharaoh’s decree that Hebrew boys be killed at birth (Exodus 1:17).
2. Moses’ parents hid their child for three months against the law of Pharaoh (Hebrews 11:23).
3. Moses worked to free his people from Egyptian bondage against the will of Pharaoh (Exodus 5:1–9; 7-12).
4. Rahab protected the Hebrew spies against the orders of the Canaanite government (Joshua 2:1–6; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).
5. David fled from King Saul and evaded capture on numerous occasions. He did not give himself up when he had opportunity, though he did not harm Saul (1 Samuel 16–24).
6. The army of Israel intervened to stop King Saul from executing his son Jonathan, rescuing him from the king’s rash command (1 Samuel 14:24–45).
7. Nathan the prophet confronted King David and rebuked him for adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12).
8. When Queen Jezebel began her purge of God’s prophets, Obadiah defied her edicts by hiding a hundred prophets (1 Kings 18:4).
9. Elijah pronounced judgment on King Ahab for his injustice (1 Kings 21:17–29).
10. Elijah refused to answer the summons of King Ahaziah (2 Kings 1).
11. Jehu mobilized the military to overthrow the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel in obedience to the Word of God (2 Kings 9–10).
12. Jehosheba rescued the infant Joash from Athaliah’s agents who were sent to slaughter him (2 Kings 11:2–3).
13. Jeremiah was considered a traitor by his government when he proclaimed God’s Word of surrender during the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (Jeremiah 38).
14. Daniel refused to defile himself with royal food offered to idols and successfully appealed to eat only vegetables and water (Daniel 1:8–16).
15. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to obey the king’s command to bow before his golden image (Daniel 3:12–18).
16. Daniel openly defied the decree forbidding prayer to anyone but the king (Daniel 6:6–13).
17. Esther violated the law of the Medes and Persians by approaching the king unbidden to rescue her people from a planned genocide (Esther 4–8).
18. The Magi (Three Kings) disobeyed King Herod by not returning to report the location of the Messiah (Matthew 2:7–12).
19. Joseph fled to Egypt to protect the infant Jesus from Herod’s murderous decree (Matthew 2:13–15).
20. Sts. Peter and John refused to stop preaching Christ despite official orders (Acts 4:18-20, 5:29).
21. St. Paul refused to leave prison quietly without an official apology after being unlawfully beaten (Acts 16:37–39).

“We ought to obey God rather than men.” — Acts 5:29