Have you ever come to a point where you are negotiating with God? As a Christian, you have to understand that obeying God is not convenient at all. There are no God-given instructions that are easy.
Questioning God’s commands can be a natural human response, especially if you don’t understand the reasons behind His commands or if they seem difficult or even impossible to follow. However, it’s important to remember that God’s commands are given to you for your own benefit. God always has a need and purpose before issuing a command.
Obedience requires willingness and wholeheartedness to follow God’s commands, principles, and teachings with reverence, humility, and submission to His authority. It also demands aligning one’s thoughts and actions with His will and seeking to live in accordance with His word is crucial.
A clear example can be seen in the life of Moses. He had a direct encounter with God when he was tending sheep in the wilderness. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and commissioned him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. This encounter was a powerful experience of God’s presence and gave Moses a deep sense of God’s power and authority.
He was ordered to go and deliver the Israelites. But Moses wondered who he was in the presence of the Lord as he was a stammerer. But God gave him instructions on how to worship God and act on His command.
Moses also wondered who was sending him. He wanted the Lord to answer more and more questions upon all instructions received. Even when God stated He was the Almighty, Moses still wondered if they would believe him. God gave him signs.
Moses even wanted someone else sent in his place despite all assurance and was given his brother Aaron as a helper. Like Moses, you may also be a reluctant obedient leader. You question everything yet God is the creator of all things. Many of us have an instruction from God, but we have been giving Him excuses.
Do as God has instructed you to do. You must demonstrate that you are willing to serve God. Show the actions and not just the words. Moses couldn’t speak but was able to act. Despite the doubts and questions, he diligently obeyed God.
Ultimately, obeying God involves demands full obedience. Partial obedience is not full obedience. Disobedience to God is a sin that separates us from Him and has consequences. Moses did not go to Canaan because he disobeyed God. Aaron also died before going to Canaan because he allowed the Israelites to make idols in worship.
Like Moses, Saul went to war and was ordered to destroy everything, but he kept the best things for himself. God even regretted making him a king. Saul also blamed the soldiers, like many Christians who try to find scapegoats. You are responsible for every instruction given to you.
I Samuel 15:22 reminds us that Obedience is better than sacrifice and emphasizes the importance of obeying God’s commands rather than merely performing religious rituals or sacrifices. God thus values your obedience and righteous behaviour more than outward acts of religious devotion.
Exodus 3:7-13
Exodus 4:1-15
Numbers 20:24-28
1 Samuel 15:4-21
Isaiah 59:2