You've heard the saying, "Blood is thicker than water." The original meaning is different than it is used today. Today we use it to mean blood family is thicker than those who are not biological family. It is from the usage of this idiom and how we articulate it today that I will demonstrate how Scripture offers a challenge.
There is a more righteous saying that Scripture demonstrates, "I am for justice no matter who it is for or against." In Jeremiah 9:24, God says, "... let him who glories in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD. Practicing justice and righteousness are required by God's people throughout the Scripture. That understanding should remind us we are not to capitulate to anything antithetical, no matter who demonstrates that.
In Exodus 32, the passage speaks of the sin of Israel requiring "gods" to be built that they may worship and offer praise for rescuing them from Egypt. False "gods" who can go before them and lead them in opposition to the One True God. Aaron received the Israelite's gold and crafted a 'golden calf.' He offered it to them and declared, "these are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" God's displeasure was massive. It burned hot against them, and he desired to consume them. After Moses came down from the mountain and expressed God's righteous anger, he broke the tablets he was working on with God. There are details worth reading on your own time that I won't add to keep this as short but detailed as possible.
After this, Moses said, "Who is on the LORD's side? Come to me. The sons of Levi gathered around him." This is where the decision to choose obedience to God would separate these men from the blood that may have connected them from those who sinned against God. Before I finish the story, let me talk more practically. I will share a couple of real-life experiences where people who claim Jesus' Lordship chose "blood family over obedience," which is sad. I know of a Pastor who has committed adultery a number of times and still sits and preaches from the pulpit. The reason he gets to do this is that his family protects him. There has been no accountability for him. No one has shown faithfulness to God in a way that would call for him to be sat down. No one has demanded he repent and restore his relationship with God and others. Blood was chosen over obedience to the God they say they love. Sadly, I could share so many real-life stories that sound like this.
I will say I believe BLM has in its ranks followers with this same way of thinking. People who would choose a criminal who resisted arrest, fought with the police, pulled out a weapon, and police had to kill, and folks then stand against justice and will not face the reality that what was righteous was the outcome that many protested against. Folks will support unrighteous behavior and even make a martyr out of the one practicing it at the expense of obedience. I am talking about people who say they are Christians but happen to share the skin color of a criminal, now the hero. That is also choosing "blood over obedience." If I speak specifically about George Floyd, I do believe he was murdered, but he, himself, is no hero. Calling him a hero dishonors God and puts Floyd's practice of injustice aside from the greater injustice that was done to him. Both must be put in their right perspective in order to say, "obedience is thicker than blood." Don't get it wrong; people of all skin colors and cultures will put family over everything. Let me say this, family is important and should be honored. But it is never to be honored in lieu of obedience to God.
First, I will share what Jesus says about this then I will offer you what God wants, as seen by the Levites. Luke 14:26, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even their own life - such a person cannot be my disciple." Then who is family to Jesus? Mark 3:33 "Who are my mother and my brothers? he asked...35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." This is urgent to understand because choosing blood over obedience will cost us. Jesus is not saying we should not love our family. He is demonstrating those who come to him must choose him when there is a decision between obedience to him and loyalty to a sinning family member.
As I finish the story from Exodus 32, examine yourself to see if you could "hand (a family member) over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that (their) spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord," 1 Corinthians 5:5. After the Levites took the side of the LORD, they were directed to "put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbors. And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses." These men were asked to show their obedience. Of course, this would not be the direction we are given today. But...
What if you had to choose obedience over agreeing to give your daughter, a Christian, away to an unsaved man?
Where would you stand if your lesbian friend, child, or grandchild invited you to their same-sex union celebration?
What would you do if your adult child committed a crime and you knew, but that child continued uncaught unless you make a choice for obedience over blood?
Let's end by reading how God rewards the sons of Levi. "today, you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day." God does not overlook our obedience. He blesses it. Though this may be a hard decision, choosing God over everything is possible. The outcome is a matter of truly loving Jesus and whether he is your Lord or not. The proof is in the choice. It is not easy. Trust me; I've experienced having to make these kinds of choices. I will never regret obedience over blood, yet it hurts to be cast aside by family. I do know God has not cast me aside. It is in Him I stand, and he knows. We have decisions to make, and obedience being thicker than blood family will be noticed by God and blessed even more.
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