The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Kayla M. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Research - Civil Government
God has established civil governments from the beginning of time until today, and He continues to guide both rulers and citizens with His Word.
As soon as He created, God imparted to man his responsibility to govern. In Genesis 2, He commanded Adam and Eve, "Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature." God expanded this design as He founded Israel’s system of government. For example, He established Moses as "the people’s representative before God" (Ex. 18:19). Then Jethro advised Moses to appoint "trustworthy men" to govern the Israelites at different levels –"thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens" (Ex. 18:21). Early in Israel’s history, God had Moses set up levels of jurisdiction, similar to America’s local, state and national levels of government today. Next, the Lord provided a foundation for Israel’s legal system in the Ten Commandments. These concise, fundamental and practical laws act as a framework for many governments established since then. For example, America’s laws stem directly from the Ten Commandments. As centuries passed in Israel’s history, God installed judges to govern the Israelites. Only when they begged for one did He give them a king. Before the prophet Samuel anointed Saul, the Lord told His prophet to warn Israel about the taxes and forced servitude a king would impose on them (1 Sa. 8:17). This episode in Israel’s history serves as an impetus for representative style government to preserve the rights and liberties of the people. Centuries later, God spoke through Paul to Romans, commanding them to "submit…for there is no authority except that which God has established" (Rom. 13:1).
Throughout His Word, God gives rulers qualifications and commands that can guide those in power today. In Exodus 18, Jethro counsels Moses to "select capable men…who fear God…who hate dishonest gain" to rule over the Israelites. Integrity and reverence for God were the key qualifications for leadership in ancient Israel, and we would do well to follow these guidelines today. God holds rulers to a high standard; "they keep watch over you as men who must give an account" (Heb. 13:11). This responsibility is heavy and serious. In Romans 13, Paul makes it clear that the one in authority is "God’s servant to do you good" and "to bring punishment on the wrongdoer" (Rom. 13:4). Employed by the Lord and held accountable to Him, rulers in civil government have a powerful responsibility to enact justice.
God has directly commanded us as citizens to obey and submit to our governments because He has put them in place. In Romans 13, He tells us to "submit to the governing authorities… [and] pay taxes." Although our ultimate "citizenship is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20), God still calls us to obey our earthly rulers and glorify Him as respectful, obedient citizens of the countries in which He has placed us. By submitting to the civil governments over us, we honor our Lord and acknowledge He is the One who established them.
