How to handle ungodly commands or instructions from authorities?

Recently a brother asked how a lie in Exodus 1:15-21 has been accepted and rewarded by God.

There was also a follow-on question on any other instances in the bible like this.

I found this question very interesting and thought it deserves a decent study and a little bit elaborated response. Thus, here we go:

Exodus 1:15-21 (NIV)

"The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 'When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth, watch them as they deliver. If it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.' The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, 'Why have you done this? Why have you allowed the boys to live?' The midwives answered Pharaoh, 'Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.' So God was kind to the midwives and gave them families of their own because they feared him. And the people increased and became even more numerous.

Understanding the Midwives' Actions and God's Response

In this passage, the midwives are indeed faced with a direct command from Pharaoh to kill all newborn Hebrew boys. They choose to disobey this command because they "feared God" (verse 17). When confronted by Pharaoh, they provide an explanation that allows them to avoid punishment and continue saving the babies. The text states, "So God was kind to the midwives and gave them families of their own because they feared him" (verse 20-21).

The key here is their "fear of God," which means they prioritized God's will (to preserve life) over Pharaoh's ungodly command. Their actions, though involving a deception towards Pharaoh, stemmed from a righteous motive to protect innocent lives and honor God. God's reward is given because they feared Him, not because He intrinsically values deception, but because they acted faithfully in a morally complex situation, choosing life over compliance with an evil decree. Their "disobedience" was to an ungodly authority, and their "obedience" was to God.

Now, let's look for other instances in the Bible where God rewarded people for their disobedience to ungodly authorities. These examples often highlight situations where human law conflicts with divine law, and choosing divine law, even if it means defying human authority, is honored by God.

Rahab and the Spies (Joshua 2:1-21; Joshua 6:22-25)

• The Situation: Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho, hides two Israelite spies sent by Joshua, even though it was against the law of her city and king to harbor enemies. When the king sent men to capture the spies, Rahab lied about their whereabouts.

• Disobedience to Ungodly Authority: She directly disobeyed her city's authorities and risked her life to protect the spies.

• God's Reward/Outcome: Because of her faith and action, Rahab and her entire family were spared when Jericho was destroyed. She is later listed in the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11 and is an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

• Verses:

• Joshua 2:4-6 (Rahab's deception): "But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, 'Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when the city gate was about to close, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.' (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.)"

• Joshua 6:25 (Rahab's reward): "But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho, and she lives among the Israelites to this day."

Daniel's Friends in the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:8-30)

• The Situation: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden image, a direct violation of the king's decree punishable by death in a fiery furnace.

• Disobedience to Ungodly Authority: They explicitly stated their refusal to obey the king's idolatrous command.

• God's Reward/Outcome: God miraculously saved them from the fiery furnace, demonstrating His power and leading Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge God. They were promoted in the province of Babylon.

• Verses:

• Daniel 3:16-18 (Their refusal): "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'"

• Daniel 3:28-30 (God's deliverance and their reward): "Then Nebuchadnezzar said, 'Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I issue a decree that people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego must be cut into pieces and their houses turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.' Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon."

Daniel in the Lions' Den (Daniel 6:1-28)

• The Situation: King Darius issued a decree that no one should pray to any god or human except the king for thirty days, under penalty of being thrown into the lions' den. Daniel continued his regular practice of praying to God three times a day.

• Disobedience to Ungodly Authority: Daniel deliberately disobeyed the king's decree, choosing to honor God over human law.

• God's Reward/Outcome: God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions, saving Daniel's life. King Darius then issued a decree for everyone in his kingdom to fear and reverence Daniel's God.

• Verses:

• Daniel 6:10 (Daniel's continued prayer): "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt down and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

• Daniel 6:22-23 (God's deliverance): "My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight; nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.' The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God."

• Daniel 6:26-27 (Darius's decree): "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. 'For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.'"

The Apostles Before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:18-20; Acts 5:27-29)

• The Situation: After healing a lame man, Peter and John were commanded by the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court) not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Later, after being miraculously released from jail, they were again commanded to stop teaching about Jesus.

• Disobedience to Ungodly Authority: They explicitly refused to stop preaching, stating they must obey God rather than human beings.

• God's Reward/Outcome: They continued to preach the Gospel, and God empowered them, with many signs and wonders accompanying their ministry, and the church grew.

• Verses:

• Acts 4:19-20 (Peter and John's defiance): "But Peter and John replied, 'Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'"

• Acts 5:29 (Peter's bold statement): "Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than human beings!'"In all these instances, the individuals prioritized obedience to God's higher law or moral imperative over the commands of human authorities, especially when those commands were unjust or idolatrous. God rewarded their faithfulness and courage, often by miraculously intervening or by granting them favor and success in their mission. The core principle is "obey God rather than human beings" when human commands contradict divine will.

In all these instances, the individuals prioritized obedience to God's higher law or moral imperative over the commands of human authorities, especially when those commands were unjust or idolatrous. God rewarded their faithfulness and courage, often by miraculously intervening or by granting them favor and success in their mission. The core principle is "obey God rather than human beings" when human commands contradict divine will.