Goats, Pearls, and Hard-Headed Humans: The Blessing of Submission and Covering

7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Hebrews 13:17 NKJV

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Ephesians 5:21 KJV 1900

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

The Struggle with Submission

Moses and the Israelites

It’s almost time to enter the promised land and here are Joshua and Caleb. “We are well able to take the land.” It’s interesting, we don’t know the name of the other 10 spies. Because, who cares. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones with an ounce of faith.

But this is the point where people start to aggravate God. As a matter of fact, scripture calls it the Day of Provocation. They provoked God. Made Him mad. You know, you can make God a little aggravated. I know He’s never aggravated with you...

I’ve had a few times He not only got upset… He corrected. And He corrects because He loves us.

And so all of this had built up, and God said, “Okay, I’m sick of this. Step aside, Moses, I’m going to take care of this little problem.”

Their unbelief and issues with faith had angered God before they could enter into the promised land.

God told Moses He would wipe them out.

Moses said, “Lord, if you kill these people as one man, people in the nations will say you had the power to bring them through, but not to bring them in.”

It amazes me that these men had such influence with God. “Let’s think about this thing, God.” I try that and He says, “I don’t need you thinking about anything. I’ve got it all figured out.”

But God hears Moses. But He also says that His glory is going to fill all the earth. And that they have tempted Him these ten times, and as surely as they have seen His glory, they will not enter into the land.

So then, I’ll give you another little insight into these people. Right after God says, “You’re not going in.” They say, “We’re ready to go in!”

So it’s really a bigger issue of: whatever God says to do, we’re going to do the opposite.

Welcome to 2022.

They end up going in, and it really turns into a nasty ordeal. Many, many of them are killed in battle because of their decisions here. It just all turns out worse and worse for a people who are not in line with the wishes of their God.

It became an issue of submission, really. They had no interest in submission or being obedient. They were going against God, Moses, and even preferred to go back to Egypt!

Here’s some real truth: There is freedom in submission and bondage in rebellion.

Initial Reactions

Real quick: Let’s have a show of hands for who enjoys being told what to do.

Ah, we welcome and embrace the word “authority”, in the context of “taking authority” and “walking in authority”, yes? Rightfully so! What an awesome privilege and honor we have to exercise the authority given to us by faith in Jesus Christ.

But hold on. There’s another side to authority that causes many saints to cringe, resist, and “feel some type of way”.

It’s when authority requires a response – to submit.

Now, I wonder what emotional, non-verbal response did hearing the word “submit” invoke in you? Did your spirit throw confetti and leap for joy? Was there a slight squirm, or an eye roll?

It’s amazing how each and every one of us are given the command to submit to authority, and every one of us has at some point tried to wiggle out of doing so. God expects us all, regardless of race, title, or status to submit ourselves to Him, to our supervisors and government, and even to graciously submit to each other.

It is a pity that the topic of submission is often discussed only in the context of marriage, because the problem in our culture is not that wives do not want to submit to husbands, but that no one wants to submit to anyone. We’re like a bunch of goats! Bucking and hollering about any little thing we don’t care for in anyone around us.

How do Christians act in these other relationships where we are supposed to be submissive?

When it comes to being submissive to church leadership, we’re quite bad at it. So bad in fact, that there are now THOUSANDS of different denominations. Do we really believe that all of those splits were justified? On the personal level, how many people are quick to switch churches because of relatively minor issues. Instead of praying for our Christian leaders, many of us spend more time complaining about them. Instead of submitting to them, we ignore or even oppose their instructions.

In a way, we’re kind of like goats. Stubborn. Hard to deal with. You ever tried to get a goat to go a direction it has no interest in going?

The Pearl, on the other hand, is quite interesting.

Why We Struggle With Submission

Many of our lives look more like the concluding verse of Judges:

Judges 21:25 KJV 1900

25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

We like to do what WE want to do.

Proverbs 14:12 KJV 1900

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

And to begin, our first submission must be with God. “Submit yourselves to God.”

Submission is at the core of holiness.

Submission to God is the cornerstone response that is needed in all of our lives before we can meaningfully address other issues. Why would someone submit to their pastor, if they wouldn’t submit to God? How can we expect Christians to be submissive towards political authorities, if they ignore God on issues like sexuality, materialism, greed, and pride?

My experience has been that Americans are some of the most resistant people to truly hearing the word of God. And I’ve got a big theory about it. I’m not even sure it’s a theory - it’s just pretty true.

And it’s this: it’s hard to understand KINGDOM principles with a DEMOCRATIC mind-set. Democracy is fine for the nations of the world, but we have to remember that the kingdom of God IS, in fact, a kingdom! It is ruled by a King, and within kingdoms are rank, order, and authority.

Church government is not of the people, by the people, for the people. It’s of the King, by the King, for the King! We don’t get to make amendments on His commands. We don’t get to do checks and balances on His power. We just OBEY!

The laws of His kingdom are not subject to popular opinion, voting, or polls. The laws are not swayed by what we believe to be good for us, as Eve was so cleverly deceived into thinking. And so today we have to be instructed in kingdom principles, because our society doesn’t train us to think these ways.

And too often today, if we don’t agree with authority, we can challenge it through complaint or protest. Because our government is “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” These democratic principles have trickled down into Christianity and marched many down the deceptive path of self-rule. And as this continues, they go beyond challenging authority to blatantly resisting it. Then there are those who have developed a greater degree of resistance to authority, which they display by totally ignoring its existence.

But none of these approaches will bring the very freedom we seek. The Bible says:

Job 36:11–12 KJV 1900

11 If they obey and serve him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. 12 But if they obey not, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

“Him” is God. Notice the promise here: provision and protection in exchange for our submission to His authority.

Ephesians 5:21 NLT

21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Why do we submit? Out of respect for God, which is what Jesus did. He submitted to the authority of Pilate because of God.

Biblical Rebellion and Submission

The Opposite of Submission: Rebellion

If we aren’t in submission, we are in rebellion.

Submission is an attitude. Obedience is complying.

Lack of submission is the root cause of much suffering and sin (actually, ALL sin - Adam and Eve)

1 Samuel 15:23 KJV 1900

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.

Rebellion IS witchcraft - it removes a covering.

Submission gives us Covering in a miraculous way.

And this works in reverse - when we submit to authority, we equip the person with authority.

Adam and Eve (The Covering)

Psalm 91:1–4 KJV 1900

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, And under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Cain and Abel

Saul and David

Elijah and Elisha

Pastoral Submission

Hebrews 13:17 NKJV

Matthew 10:40–41 NKJV

40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

Pastor is not your buddy. If that’s what you want, you can’t have a Covering.

A church board doesn’t biblically lead a church. That’s not covering. We have to submit to a pastor.

Be careful listening to people talk. Especially about ministry and pastors. When a wolf tells the story, the shepherd is always the enemy!

Areas of Submission

God

James 4:6–7 NKJV

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Our Spouse

Colossians 3:18–19 NKJV

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

Elders

1 Peter 5:5 NKJV

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Friends + Family

Colossians 3:20–21 NKJV

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Ephesians 5:21 NKJV

21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Pastor

Hebrews 13:17 NKJV

Government

Romans 13:1–7 NKJV

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

On the Job

Conclusion

What about abusers? (David served and honored Saul)

Ephesians 5:17–21 KJV 1900

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.