God appoints men to determine where to 'draw the line'

God appoints men to determine where to ‘draw the line’ on His commandments.

When the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, they came to Mount Sinai. There God told Moses to put a boundary on the mountain. God told Moses to tell the people to not go up into the mountain, or touch the border of it. Whoever touched the mountain, would be surely put to death. (Exodus 19:12).

It was up to Moses where to draw the line on the mountain to put the boundary. It was a matter of life and death.

When God made Adam, He gave him a commandment.

"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." - Genesis 2:16-17 KJV

After this, God made woman. (Genesis 2:18, 22).

Adam must have been careful to set the boundary around the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for Eve, to be certain she wouldn’t eat of it and die. It appears Adam must have concluded she would be safe if he told her not to touch the tree.

"And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." - Genesis 3:2-3 KJV

It seems Adam was watching for his wife’s life when he gave her God’s commandment, but Eve was deceived by the devil and did not obey. Adam chose to eat of the tree, and sin and death passed upon all mankind.

Today, God gives us pastors to teach us and to set boundaries. God appoints pastors to ‘draw the line,’ watching for our souls, knowing our falling into sin will destroy us.

"Obey them that have the rule over you [your spiritual leaders], and submit yourselves [do what they say]: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." - Hebrews 13:17 KJV

"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." - Jeremiah 3:15 KJV