It’s the question of the ages: Why do people rebel against God?

Psalm 2 asks this very question, then goes on to describe us well:

Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
“Let us break their chains
    and throw off their shackles.” (vv. 1-3)

We rebel against God because we don’t want to give up the power we have over our own lives. We are kings of our little domains. We rule over our own decisions. We want to keep our puny power. Our necks chafe at the shackle, our feet tire of dragging the chains of obedience to God. Instead, we want to break the chains and throw off the shackles and be free to do what we want, when we want, with whom we want.

At least, that’s how a part of us feels — that untamed, rebellious self that we keep hidden most of the time. That self will be with us as long as we live, and it will keep lying to us the whole time.

What is the truth, then? If not shackles and chains, then what? Let’s hear from Jesus Himself:

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) 

What a difference there is between chains and a yoke! Look at the words Jesus uses to describe what it’s like to follow and obey Him: rest, learn, gentle, humble, easy, light. These words do not describe the experience of being chained and shackled. That is done against the will; the yoke is taken up willfully.

And if we do take His yoke upon us, surrender to His will and His ways, what will happen? Well, it won’t be chafing against the shackle or dragging chains. It will be rest from our weariness and burdens because He takes them upon Himself in the yoke. It won’t be forced labor, but gentle and humble learning from Jesus Himself. It won’t be chains, but an easy yoke that brings rest to our frenzied thoughts, our weary emotions, and our burdened hearts.

On my good days, when I feel myself rebelling against God in some area, I remind myself of God’s goodness and tell my rebel self, “Why wouldn’t I want to surrender to a good God? He has the best ahead for me. It will be better than what I want for myself right this minute. I can trust Him.”

If we see surrender to God as chains and shackles, we’ll bolt. If we see surrender as Jesus lifting the burdens from our shoulders and shouldering them Himself in His yoke, as teaching us to walk in step with Him, and as bringing us rest, we will gladly surrender.

So what will it be? How will you see surrender to God? Chains or yoke?