OBEDIENCE
When you mix obedience and faith you have an unbeatable situation. Many years ago I spoke with a psychology major about obedience and she said – “you cannot really obey something you do not understand”. I said “when you obey the understanding will come later”. It was a catch-22 situation with her so I let it go. Her schooling did allow her to see how obedience works.
1 SAMUEL 13:8-14 – God is always looking for a person who will obey without questioning Him. This is the point being made in these verses.
· (8) appointed time was 7 days
· (9) Saul went ahead on his own and offered sacrifice
· (11) Samuel questions Saul’s actions. Saul starts justifying his actions based on a spirit of FEAR
When Saul made the sacrifice was the exact time he stepped into disobedience before the Lord. Just because the people began to “tremble” and some left Saul does not justify disobedience. Verse 12 has 2 interesting points:
· Saul did not seek the favor of God- he admits this.
· Saul “forced” himself to offer the sacrifice. You have to wonder what that really means. What forced him?
In contrast we find Nehemiah always seeking the Lord in all decisions he had to make, and serious for the welfare of the people under his rule.
Both Saul and Nehemiah saw the enemy coming but both men responded in different ways. Nehemiah went on to victory – Saul went on to an early death.
Another encouraging story is found in 2 CHRONICLES 20 where Jehoshaphat and Israel faced some very mighty armies and he readily admitted that Israel was powerless before this great multitude. But he went to the Lord and asked for guidance and favor and God granted the victory, though not thru the use of physical weapons, That is another story for another time. WARNING TO US: We are to be careful to see beyond the physical situations and focus on the spiritual, fully knowing that our God will always provide the victory for us. Jehosphapht recognized the situation, released it to the Lord - something that Saul failed to do.
An article I found on OBEDIENCE related to JOSHUA chapter 6 and the walls of Jericho. We all have walls in our lives – some are good walls, some are not so good. One good wall is God’s protection when we are obedient to Him.
JERICHO was a very old city, a major roadblock for Israel coming into the land that God promised them. In the eyes of the Israelites the city loomed very big. But JOSHUA already knew the city would be theirs that victory was already given by God. The people did not know this – most believers do not know that they have the victory. People struggle with life’s issues, they do not believe in the power of God, they see the big walls and fear sets in. I am convinced that so many fight being obedient because:
· They have to give up something
· They have to change their life styles
· Obedience is too uncomfortable and too demanding for most people. Response is often “don’t rock the boat”or “I like things just the way they are”.
The walls of JERICHO were nearly 25 feet high and 20 feet thick in some areas. Here we see JERICHO as a symbol of military strength and power. Many Canaanites were like the builders of the ship TITANTIC – they believed their beloved city was invincible. Most people believed the ship was unsinkable. We now know this was not true.
God told Joshua (JOS 6:2) “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.The Israelites realized they had no military equipment with them. They were focused on the physical. Joshua, as usual, was focused on the spiritual through “spiritual eyes". He heard the Lord, without doubt or question.He had already been tried, tested and was fully qualified for leadership. Joshua had lived a life based on obedience, which brought him into God’s mighty power, provision and protection. He never doubted the Lord concerning the city of Jericho.
Something that went deep into my spirit is that God told Joshua the battle was won before God ever gave specific battle instructions. OKAY – next time doubt starts coming towards you remind yourself that you already have the victory – victory was won by Jesus at Calvary. Just continue to believe and follow the Lord as He leads you.
The battle plan for taking JERICHO was so simple that some people might say it was “psychological warfare”, as Israel marched around the city in silence. What lesson is here for us? Maybe just rest in the Lord, be quiet and keep on marching day by day.
On day 7 things really heated up. Israel marched around Jericho 7 times. On the 7th time around the city the priests let out one long and loud blast on their trumpets.
This signal was given so the people would shout and then watch God. They shouted – the walls crumbled – they walked in – they took the city. End of the battle for Jericho.
What about us as believers? Would we, as believers, be willing to do something so simple as marching around a city wall if God asked us to? Are we willing to be patient and wait on the Lord for however long He requires; to be quiet and obedient to Father God? The battle has been won, Satan has been defeated, God reigns in the heavenlies. What else is there for us to do? There is nothing else but to be obedient and trust the Lord.
I am learning how faith and obedience work together. My faith is in Jesus Christ and the finished work He has done. Obedience is something I must practice every minute of every day. I want to be like the obedient examples in God’s Word – people like Jehoshaphat, Nehemiah, David, Elijah, Joshua and others in the O.T. Like Peter, Paul, James, John and the host of obedient servants in the N.T.
Sometimes our walk in the Lord is difficult but I am seeing how faith and obedience are our partners in that walk.
The next time we face a JERICHO, and there will be those times, will we go into the battle knowing that Victory is already ours? Or will we let doubt and fear slip in and possibly bring defeat.
I choose to be like Joshua – I have the victory, I just need to stand on the Word and watch God!