Opus 2018-022: Forms of Government, part 1 of 5, Father Knows Best

The interaction of Christians with their government has always been an issue but what is the most appropriate form of government?  Societies develop differing kinds of structures to make it possible to live together.  Even small tribes have a hierarchy even if it seems rather informal.  We see a lot of types of leadership mentioned in the Bible but do not get a clear teaching about forms of government. 

The first human organization demonstrated by people in the Bible would seem to be the patriarchy.  Although we refer to Abraham we see the seeds in Noah.

(Genesis 6:18 KJV)  But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

Noah would give orders and his children would obey.  Eventually they will move out of the area and set up their own families.  It worked for small groups.  The first mention we have of kings and kingdoms involves Babel and we know how that turned out.  That was only two generations after Noah.

Abram, later Abraham, left the big city with its kings and became a nomad.  This continued the tradition of patriarchs among God’s people.  It worked well, unless you were Joseph, until famine forced them to Egypt.  Through the time of captivity they maintained an awareness of their tribe but no government seems to have developed.  They had a Pharaoh but they were not Egyptians.

To be continued...

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