In this study on obedience we are going to delve a little deeper into what the Old Testament has to say on the subject. Even after reading a few pages of God’s word we soon find that obedience is very prominent. Many read the Bible only to find the promises, to increase their faith or to know God’s will, but if obedience is lost sight of then none of these are of any benefit to the soul.
In the record of Noah’s life we find that he obeyed God’s commands, “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Genesis 6:22) ... “And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him” (Genesis 7:5). What if Noah had chosen to reject God’s will? Would we even be doing this study today if he had done so? The future of the human race and the rest of creation depended upon Noah’s commitment and obedience to God. “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which He condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Hebrews 11:7).
We all know about Abraham’s faith, but what about his obedience? His faith was proven to be of the highest quality because he obeyed God, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed” (Hebrews 11:8). The patriarch’s faith is rightly spoken of as a model for all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but let us not forget that this faith was nothing without obedience, “And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:16-18) ... “And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws” (Genesis 26:4-5).
Though Moses initially objected to do as God commanded, he soon did what he was commissioned to do (see Exodus 3:1 – 4:17). Even before the Lord actually gave Moses the Ten Commandments He spoke about the need for obedience amongst His people,
“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5). The promise here was dependent upon Israel obeying exactly what God commanded. How can a Christian hope to come to holiness, glory and blessing if there is no obedience?
The Sanctuary was also built according to the plans that were given to Moses, and only then did
“a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD
filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). Does this not suggest that God only dwells amongst an obedient people? Moses warned Israel about the consequences of disobedience in Deuteronomy 11:26-28,
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.”
Their entrance into the Promised Land was delayed by forty years because of their refusal to obey God.
Saul is particularly known for his disobedience to God’s commands. The Lord, through Samuel the prophet, had given precise instruction concerning the sacrifice in Gilgal to the king (1 Samuel 10:8), but he thought he knew better than God and did things his own way (1 Samuel 13:8-14). To obey 99% of what God has commanded us is the same as completely disobeying Him.
Saul did not learn his lesson instead he disobeyed God further. Even then he was adamant that he had actually done as God commanded (1 Samuel 15:1-3, 13, 20), the truth was that he had already decided to ignore God’s will,
“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king”
(1 Samuel 15:22-23). Note: Since rebellion [disobedience] is as witchcraft, it should not surprise us to learn that that was the direction Saul took to determine his future (1 Samuel 28:7-8). Those who refuse to listen to God are actually obeying Satan instead.
Most people are happy to be religious rather than obedient to God. Vows, sacrifices and good works are used to barter with God about eternal life, in the hope that He will reduce His standards. Religion has always sought to cover man’s failure this way, but God still demands obedience, “For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: but this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you” (Jeremiah 7:22-23). The only sacrifice that has ever been approved by God is the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary. We are called to be obedient to the voice of our Saviour, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
Page created 9 June 2006