Rules are Unfair

     It seems lately that people are struggling with rules. They feel that certain rules are being imposed upon them unjustly. I laughed at a recent commercial where two men are playing golf and a novice noted that the number of strokes don't matter. The experienced golfer said something to the effect that, "Yes, they do count! That is what golf is all about, counting the strokes! Everyone out here [pointing around the golf course] knows that about golf." 

    We can easily say that the rules don't apply to us, but that doesn't change the fact the yes, in deed, they do! My husband was a long-time middle school teacher and one of his favorite comebacks to the constant complaint that, "It's not fair!" was, "I am unfair to everyone, so that makes it fair." He received much groaning upon that response, but they got the idea. He treated everyone equally, so all were expected to turn in their homework, come to class with a pencil, and be prepared for exams. Seems simple enough, but not to those who really didn't want to comply. 

    Compliance to rules can seem to some as if they are giving up their rights. Assuming the rules apply to all, for the good of all, then how can that be unfair? The Book of Numbers addresses this issue with the Israelites as they were taken out of slavery in Egypt by the LORD and were wandering in the wilderness. They were wandering, basically due to their constant complaints and defiance against Moses and Aaron their leaders chosen by God. The LORD said to Moses, "The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD: The same laws and regulations will apply to you and to the foreigner residing among you" (Numbers 15:15-16 NIV). 

    When my husband's grandson was around five years old, he and I were playing a game and as I began to win [yes, I'm the competitive type] he started changing the rules, so he could win [yes, he's competitive as well]. I said, "Wait a minute, you told me the rules and I followed them, so I am winning." He replied, "But now I'm changing them, so I'm winning." Out of the mouth of babes! If we feel like things aren't going the way we want them, then we want to change the rules, but what about others who are winning following the same rules? 

    In Numbers, a group of Israelite leaders, decided that how the community was being managed wasn't fair, "They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, 'You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?'" (Numbers 16:2-3 NIV). Moses responded in Numbers 16:11, "It is against the LORD that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?" In other words, God set up the chain of command, gave us the rules, and we're just the messengers. 

    The revolt of the 250 Israelites leaders didn't end well. The heads of the coup and their families were swallowed up by the earth and many thousands of their followers died of a plague (Numbers 16:16-50). Now that may seem unfair, but the judgement was by the LORD, and what we know from reading the Bible is:

We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23) and are therefore worthy of eternal death (Romans 6:23). If we “fairly” received what we deserve, we would end up in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14–15). But God is merciful and good, so He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place, taking the punishment that we deserve (2 Corinthians 5:21). All we have to do is believe in Christ and we will be saved, and we will receive an eternal home in heaven (John 3:16). With the sacrifice of Christ, God maintains His “fairness” in that sin is adequately punished. (Taken from, https://www.gotquestions.org/is-God-fair.html) 

    We, being mere humans, can't decipher "fairness" for all other humans. What we can do is abide by the scriptures, given to us by God, regarding our governance, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1). You may say, "Well, what if the government officials are corrupt?" Just like in Moses time, the Israelite leaders felt Moses and Aaron made rules that didn't apply to them. In Numbers 16, the LORD offers another option to show the people who He had chosen, but they flat out refused to comply with it, saying, "No, we will not come!" (Numbers 16:14). 

    The bottomline, as I see it, is that we can choose to believe God, in all things, and leave the rest to Him or believe ourselves and try to manipulate and cajole others to follow our rules and do things our way. But the latter is a lot of work and often does not end well for all involved. Take the pressure of the world off your shoulders, and accept the LORD's guidance, as Moses told the Israelites as they were escaping Egypt, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today" (Exodus 14:13). By all means, cry out to the LORD and tell Him your concerns, fears, and even respectfully, your objections, but then place them all in His Mighty Hands and watch Him do what is "fair" and just for all involved. 

Psalm 46:10, He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."