Obedience; And its Benefits
To read the previous topic called Abiding in Christ, please click here.
Through the life of Abraham, we are going to learn the meaning of Obedience and the benefit of living a life of Obedience. The Scripture we shall be gleaning from is no other than Genesis 22:1-18, the sacrifice of Isaac (Abraham's radical act of obedience). I am so excited to see what the Lord will reveal about the life of Abraham in this chapter and how it should challenge us to make the decision to deepen our relationship with the Lord.
Without further ado, let us pray:
Heavenly Father, i pray that you will challenge us with your Words today and although some of us might have read this chapter many times or heard of this story; would you bring fresh interpretations to these Words. May we have the heart just like Abraham to obey you until the very end even when it does not make sense and costs us. In Jesus name, Amen.
Today's topic is building or adding into the previous, Abiding. The main thing we learned in Abiding is the ability and the importance of obeying Jesus' command because there are benefits to this.
The evidence for this is, John 15:10-11 & 17 '[10] If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. [11] I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. [17] This is my command: Love each other'.
We move on to today’s topic by answering the question:
What's the definition of obedience? According to the dictionary, obedience is described as the compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another's authority.
The biblical definition of Obedience is worship unto God. Worship to put simply, means allowing God to consume your whole life without restraint (Romans 12:1).
Obedience includes sacrifice. This is sacrifice that doesn't please your flesh but one that honours God and gives life to the/your spirit - the sacrifice is our heart belonging to him. Jesus' act of worship was his sacrificial Obedience to the cross.
It says in Hebrews 10:5-7 '[5] Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; [6] with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. [7] Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’ Upon reading these verses, I am taken back to the whole purpose for being God's creation; we are created for worship and Jesus showed the definition of what true worship was, by going to the cross.
It also says in Proverbs 21:3 “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
Application: God is saying I'd rather you obey the instructions I give to you about your life rather than running around doing ministry (remember ministry is not subjected to the pulpit alone, it’s the way you live for Christ) for me; thinking it would please me. Believers can get so caught up with ministry (I know I have been guilty of this), only to find out their heart have slowly drifted away from God. To have our hearts is God’s desire before the work we produce. The reason being, out of the love that flows from our hearts for the Lord; then good works can be produced.
How do we link this to our identity in Christ? Well, seeing as the topics we have been discussing so far has been pertaining to the theme, Identity. The linkage to this is, taking on the identity of Christ must come with full obedience/surrender. According to Matthew 16:24 which says [24] Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me”.
To deny ourselves and take up our cross is to be fully submitted to the Lordship of Christ in everything. Moreover, Christ didn't tell us to do what he didn't do, again; we know this because of his Obedience to the cross. Now let's explore Genesis 22:1-18 together.
Genesis 22:1-2 says “[1] Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. [2] Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
Very important to note, this is the first time the word love appears in the Bible and what a grand way for it to appear because it's between a father and his son. It foreshadows when Jesus would be Baptised in the synoptic Gospels and God the Father declaring him as his Son whom he's well pleased with. Luke 3:22 '[22] and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven': “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” This is a reminder of the cost that God paid to have you/us reconciled back to him. What he didn't permit Abraham to do as we would see in the latter verses; he (being God) who loved his Son allowed him to be sacrificed so we may become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
Be reminded of this when you want to dabble in both worlds and not fully live for him (when the urge of compromise is at your feet), when you want to disobey him and wilfully live your life, yet again, be reminded of this when he calls you to have a conversation with him through the form of prayer and you refuse or tell him the time is not conducive. I was heavily convicted by this myself so ouch!
Anyway, God is funny because I don't know if Abraham ever thought about it but i did “You mean to tell me you are going to promise me a child at the age of 75 (Gen 12:4) then I finally get the promise child at 100 years old (Gen 21:5) and then years along the line, the same kid whom you said that you shall make nations out of, you are requesting for him to be sacrificed? Sir?”
It's an honest reminder that God's ways are not like ours and his thoughts are most definitely not like ours. What we can learn from this as children of God is to be reminded, just like Abraham, we shall undergo tests and our tests shall prove where our faith lies. These tests cause us to see if we honour God with lip services or truly with our hearts. It's easy to say I love you Lord when everything is going well but when he tells you to walk away from that high paying job he gave to you or a relationship or when you're going through a long period of sickness or grief, it becomes quite challenging.
According to 1 Peter 1:6-7 which says '[6] In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed'.
Who knows? this request from God might have caused a little unnerving in Abraham’s side. However, I love Genesis 22:3 which says “[3] Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about”. Look at the timing? It didn't say the next week or the next year. Some of you that the Lord has given an instruction to write that vision, write the book, join the Bible Study group etc. This has been going on 5 years, and you wonder why God hasn't given you a new word? Because you haven't been obedient to the one which he gave in the first place.
How then can you get a next step if you haven't taken the step in which he gave to you? You don't need a new word you just need to be obedient to the word God has already given to you!
So then, with Abraham we see swift obedience and preparation for the sacrifice; that's the requirement of one whose identity is in Christ. This is the meaning of placing yourself under his Lordship and acknowledging; you know what God? I am your sheep, and I trust that you know best even though I do not understand your strange requests right now.
Genesis 22:4 and 9 says “[4] On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance". "[9] When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood”.
How do these two verses link? We see The Son, Isaac, being offered on wood, on a hill after three-day's journey. Jesus, the Son of God, was offered on wood, on a hill, and was in the grave for three days. The bounding in verse 9 highlights a willing obedience from Isaac, it's thought that Isaac was old enough to have resisted Abraham if he wanted to. This also displays the willingness of Christ going to the cross for us. Isaiah 53:7 says '[7] He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth'. This is the messianic prophecy about the death of Christ and if you read the Gospels; you will see before Pilate (John 19:7-10) and even King Herod (Luke 23:8-9), Jesus refused to answer their questions because he knew his assignment and was obedient to it.
As Christ followers, we are called into a life of obedience to God which comes by participating in the suffering of Christ. Romans 8:35-37 says '[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us'.
An additional point on Isaac’s action in relation to Christ, Genesis 22:6 says '[6] Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together'.
What do we know about the crucifixion of Christ? John 19:16-18 says '[16] Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. [17] Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). [18] There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle'. Even when it gets extremely difficult, would you still pick up your cross and follow Christ?
Getting back to Genesis 22:5, [5] He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” This is also the first occasion where the word worship is used in the Bible, and it displays radical obedience and having huge faith in God's promise. Do you know the crazy amount of faith Abraham must have had in God for him to utter these sentences. The level of trust you have for God will be displayed in your obedience to the very things he tells you to do (things that do not make sense).
The book of Hebrews gives us a glimpse to Abraham's thought during this moment. It says in Hebrews 11:17-19 '[17] By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, [18] even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” [19] Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death'.
Moreover, we must understand that before Abraham got to this moment, he had been journeying with the Lord for years (above 30 years); getting to know God, his story wasn't perfect; it was filled with lies and doubts. We should see them as lessons which helped mould, shape and taught him about dependency and trust in God. Therefore, if you're not at the level of Abraham's faith, I believe God shapes us in such a way that when the Isaac test comes, we are ready for it. In addition, God is always increasing our faith in him.
Genesis 22:7-8 says, [7] Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” [8] Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
There is no way Isaac didn't think there was something up, yet he trusted his father when he said the Lord will provide. If Isaac can put his trust in his human father, how much more can we put our trust in the Father of spirits when he says he’s our present help in times of trouble.
Let's move on to Genesis 22:9-10 most especially 10 and the Word of God says '[9] When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. [10] Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son'.
Hmm, this was obedience to the very end. Abraham didn't get to the top of the mountain and say to Isaac "well now Isaac, let's wait and see the sign from God" or to God "God give me another sign if i am really and i mean for real meant to sacrifice Isaac" like we all do (I sheepishly admit that I do this often so pray for me as i pray for you). Abraham literally went to the very end of being about to sacrifice his son just as the Lord had ordered. He really said if God said, then i will do it. To add to this, his faith also produced works, it wasn't without action (James 2:14-26 talks about this).
Genesis 22:11 says '[11] But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied'. I love the "here I am response", we see it being used by several people in the Bible when responding to God (Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, Samuel and Ananias of Damascus in the book of Acts). This brings me to ask the question, are we in close proximity to hear when the Lord speaks to us and would we be able to respond with ‘Here I am’.
We see the interruption of Isaac's near-death experience with the Lord saying to Abraham in Genesis 22:12 '[12] “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said'. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” We must understand that this was a confirmation that God wasn't like the pagan gods that were worshipped by the nations around Abraham. Those demanded sacrifices of children, but God abhorred it.
These sacrifices were the very reason why God’s anger burned against some of the Kings of Judah in the Bible I.e. 2 Chronicles 28:1-3 '[1] Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. [2] He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. [3] He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites'.
Furthermore, we must understand that these very words spoken by the Lord in verse 12 were not for God because God already knew what Abraham was going to do. However, Abraham will never know his love for God until he was given this test. This test was able to reveal his heart posture towards God. We know God knew what Abraham was going to do because he's Omniscient and according to 1 Chronicles 28:9 (David speaking), '[9] “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever'. We are made aware in 1 Peter 1:6-7 that when we face these testing/trials it is for the genuineness of our faith to be revealed.
As we would see in the next two verses Genesis 22:13-14 '[13] Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son'. [14] So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
This leaves me to say don't expect to receive the blessings of provision if you're unwilling to obey till the very end. God honoured the obedience/faith that Abraham showed to the very end. If you should know one thing about God; he's a rewarder of those who perseveres.
Time and time again, we have seen scripture speak about this. Hebrews 10:32-36 '[32] Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. [33] Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. [34] You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. [35] So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. [36] You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised'.
Hebrews 6:10-12 '[10] God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. [11] We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. [12] We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised'.
Reading this chapter, I always wondered why God chose to provide a ram instead of a lamb as this would have better pre-figured Christ who's called the Lamb of God. The explanation for this is in the meaning of the name Jehovah Jireh. As Abraham named the place of the sacrifice “The Lord will provide” in verse 14; what he was doing then, was looking forward in faith that the Lord will eventually provide the Lamb that will take away the sins of the world. In the Old Testament, it wasn't provided yet but from a New Testament perspective we can now see and say that the Lord has provided. Isn't God Great!
Genesis 22:15-18 “[15] The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time [16] and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, [17] I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, [18] and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Right back to the theme of God being a rewarder of those who are faithful/obedient to him, we see God declaring a new promise to Abraham in the latter part of verse 17. Before we get there, we must acknowledge God calling Isaac Abraham's only son, we obviously know that Ishmael was his son as well, but God's covenant was reckoned through Isaac (Gen 17:17-21).
When I was preparing for this, I came across a commentary by Nate Holdridge that said, this was God’s way of giving grace to Abraham by not acknowledging the work of his flesh which was Ishmael. This is like God saying I see your sins, but I choose to blot them away from my presence. Isaiah 43:25 says [25] “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more”.
Back to reward, God has already promised in verse 17A to make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. This can also be found in Genesis 15:5 so nothing new. Verse 17B however, says "Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies". This was a new clause added due to obedience.
It's said that "To possess the gate of one's enemy" is to take over the authority of their enemy. According to The Bible Says, 'The gate was the place of civic life, where judgements were made and where kings or authorities ruled'. This is the reason why the wall of Jericho crumbling was significant; it would've been a time where the Israelites remembered what was prophesied by God to Abraham years past.
Joshua 6:1 and 15-16 “[1] Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in [15] On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. [16] The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city”!
Even today, we know that Israel is not occupying most of the lands the Lord had promised them. They've not fully possessed the gates of their enemies which leads me to the next clause which was now granted to Abraham in Genesis 22:18. It says, “and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” We must be careful when reading this part as it says offspring but, in some translation, it makes mention of seed not seeds, using the singular rather than the plural form.
Galatians 3:16 helps us explain this text and it says '[16] The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ'. Although, God has said in Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 18:18 nations will be blessed through Abraham, we see that it will be due to the one coming down his lineage and that's Jesus.
More importantly we know that when Jesus comes, he will establish his throne and take the physical gates of his enemies (Psalms 2). Christ has spiritually accomplished this which means we as believers have done the same and this should serve as a reminder when God calls us to places riddled with oppositions.
As it says in Colossians 2:13-15 '[13] When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, [14] having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. [15] And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross'.
You can find the final sub-topic of Identity here.