Years back, my nephew told what he had experienced. His mother, who at the time was not a Christian (she has since been saved), was trying to take him and his sister to a witchcraft-worker supposedly to get protection. The girl refused, but the boy went. When asked later why he had agreed to go, the boy responded, “but God says to obey your father and mother.”

While God commands us to obey our parents (Ephesians 6:1-3) and other authorities, these authorities are supposed to honor those who do right and only punish those who do wrong (Romans 13:1-4). So, when human authorities demand we do evil and break the commandments of Almighty God, who is the Highest Authority, we should not obey them.

The apostles of the Lord Jesus, Peter and John, refused to obey the religious authorities who commanded them—more than once—to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. Peter and John were arrested after performing miraculous signs and sharing the good news of Jesus. The Jewish religious authorities told the two apostles not to
speak or teach in the name of Jesus again. “But Peter and John replied, ‘Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?’” (Acts 4:19). So they continued to preach the message that “Jesus is the Messiah” every day (Acts 5:42).

In the Old Testament, two Hebrew midwives—Shiphrah and Puah—were commanded by Pharaoh to kill all the male children at birth. These midwives were faced with a choice: to obey the human authority, the pharaoh, and kill Hebrew baby boys, or to obey God, who is the Highest Authority. They chose to obey God. The midwives disobeyed Pharoah’s orders and delivered the babies alive! God was pleased and dealt well with these women (Exodus 1:15-21).

Then, three Hebrew boys—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—disobeyed King Nebuchadnezzar’s orders to worship a golden statue, even though Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw them alive into a burning fiery furnace. They knew God could save them from the furnace, but even if He didn’t, they told the king, “we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). The boys chose to continue worshipping the only true and living God. And God rescued them from the fire. • Charity Kiregyera

• Have you ever faced a situation where you had to choose between obeying God and obeying a person? When you find yourself in such a situation, you need help and support, counsel and encouragement. Who are trusted Christians—such as pastors, parents, and church elders—you can go to for help?

The apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” Acts 5:29b (NLT)