“I Will Not Serve!”
For over a month now we have watched news reports of missiles raining down upon Ukraine, buildings being destroyed, millions fleeing their homeland with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and bodies lying dead in the streets. There can be no doubt that history will conclude that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was one of the worst tragedies of the twenty-first century.
Yet we cannot help being impressed by the Ukrainian spirit. Vladimir Putin must have believed the people of Ukraine would have surrendered to the Russian forces by now, but what seemed in the beginning to be a foregone conclusion is now uncertain. Ukraine, of course, will never be the same, and we weep over the senseless death, destruction, and homelessness. But the Ukrainians’ resilience in the face of adversity is inspiring.
We should not be surprised, however, when we witness the kind of strength we have seen in Ukraine. History records numerous examples that demonstrate that the human spirit cannot be forced into submission. Even when governments are powerful enough to shackle our bodies, they cannot suppress our souls.
No one knows this better than the Creator, which is why he does not lead by force, although he wields more power than all the arsenals in the world combined.
When he desired the Israelites’ loyalty and obedience, what he do? Did he beat his people into submission? Did he throw them into prison or threaten their lives? On the contrary, he set them free! They were slaves in Egypt when he sent Moses to Pharaoh, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, let my people go, that they may serve me.” He desired love, not slavish obedience. Love cannot be taken by force. It must be offered willingly.
Sadly, despite all that God had done for them, Israel did not return his love. Through the prophet Jeremiah, he says to them, “For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, 'I will not serve’” (Jer. 2:20). That unyielding human resilience was on display in the days of Jeremiah, but unlike the brave resistance we are witnessing in Ukraine, in Israel we see a nation's resilience turned on itself, the stubborn rebellion of fools.
God will not force us to follow him. He desires more then forced worship and hollow service (Ps. 51:16-17). He will settle for nothing less than our love (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
Resistance is admirable when it opposes evil, but when it stubbornly confronts the will of God, the same human spirit we admire in one instance reveals itself as nothing but foolishness. It does no good to rebel against God. He is not a dictator who beats his people into submission. He is our Heavenly Father, and he calls us in love to humble ourselves under his mighty hand (1 Pet. 5:6).
Drew Kizer