Command conflict

Several months ago, as my parents were planning their grand adventure to Hawaii in celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary, I was faced with a dilemma. My parents needed me to picked them up at the airport on a Saturday.

Most people would not be phased by this request. However, I observe Shabbat--a weekly observance which begins on Friday at sundown and ends on Saturday at sundown. I am always at a loss when two commands which God gives conflict with each other. In my situation, the first command is to guard the sabbath. One is to keep the day holy--to keep it set apart from the rest of the days of the week. Driving to the airport would degrade the day to just a common, ordinary day. The second command is to honor one's father and mother. If I decided not to pick my parents up at the airport, I would be neglecting my duty as a daughter to honor my parents' request.

For several months, I was in agony. "Oh LORD, what should I do? I want to honor You, but I also want to honor my parents. Please make this all work out. Please allow me to keep Shabbat without neglecting my parents." The weeks rolled by, and nothing seemed to happen.

Thursday night before my parents were to arrive home, my mom contacts me. "The city in which we have a connecting flight is supposed to receive bad storms tomorrow and Saturday. The airlines are giving us the option to reschedule our return flight home for another day. Is it ok if we come home on Tuesday? Will you be able to pick us up?" As my mom's words process in my head, I nearly leap for joy! I say, "Tuesday is just fine. I will see you in a couple days."

When the conversation with my mom ends, I start praising God. "Oh thank You LORD!!! Thank You for the storms. Thank You for allowing my parents to reschedule their flights to avoid possible travel delays. Thank You for allowing me to observe Shabbat and also honor my parents. Thank You for hearing my prayers. Amen."

"If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot
From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,
And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable,
And honor it, desisting from your own ways,
From seeking your own pleasure
And speaking your own word,
Then you will take delight in the LORD,
And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
For the mouth of the LORD has spoke." (Isaiah 58:13-14)