Defiant obedience

“On the day after the Passover the Israelites went out defiantly in the sight of all the Egyptians.” Numbers 33:3

That struck me in my Bible reading today. They “went out defiantly.”

If I think about the Israelites during the Exodus season, “defiant” is a word that comes to mind. But usually, that’s connected to their disobedience, not their walking with God in His deliverance.

Our culture, often including Christians, can do defiant. We know how to be rebellious. But what about in a context of obedience?

What the CSB translates as “defiant” literally means “with a raised hand.” Some translate it as “triumphantly.” That’s where I think we see the difference between defiant obedience and sinful defiance.

The same phrase is used to describe the Israelites leaving in Exodus 14:8. The context of both verses is God’s work in enabling them to leave (hardening Pharaoh’s heart, unleashing the plagues to execute judgment against the Egyptian gods).

Defiant obedience always gives the glory to God. It celebrates how He’s working regardless of who’s watching. It wants those around us to see what God has done.

Sinful defiance always places myself at the center, which could include spiritual pride over my seemingly correct theology or actions. It wants those around me to see what I’ve done.

For Christians to live faithfully in a fallen world, we will have to display defiant obedience. The trouble happens when we, like the Israelites, don’t keep God as the focus.

God calls us to defiant obedience, but the emphasis is on obedience, not defiant.

Instead of walking with God and allowing His Spirit to lead us, so that we can understand what obedience looks like in each context, we take the easy way out and just live defiantly. We are like Moses striking the rock every time, even when God wants us to do it differently this time.

Let me faithfully obey God with my hand held high, so that those around me look up instead of at me.