Obedience

Obedience; an obligation humans have always approached with much discord. It is a rarity for mortals to opine that absolute obedience can be a necessity. Yet, all that sustains life is thoroughly dependent on non-negotiable conformity to the rules of nature. Imagine if the laws of gravity or physics or elemental behavior were somehow varied on their own volition; the chaos that would be engendered. But still, we premise upon our own abilities to think and our right of choice, to define, vary and navigate our own obedience.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Gen 3:6)

Reading the Genesis account, there are many who would champion the right to partake of the “fruit of the knowledge of good and evil”. Was the tree not good for food? Was it not a delight to the eyes? Would it not make one wise? Why, can we not know good and thereby also evil? All in all, what was so wrong with the fruit? After all, it was accorded similar prestige to the tree of life. We are not convinced in the matter of having to obey absolutely, that one rule. Does absolute obedience bear any relation to submission? Is obeisance not premised on obedience? Does Creator prerogative have to prevail? We also fail to appreciate that severe consequence of the earth having to be completely deluged by a flood only a few generations later. Some have posited that the flood is inconsistent with a loving God.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Mat 6:10)

Is absolute compliance an aberration? The heavens obey without variation. Planet earth has been spinning on her axis for at least 3000 years. She has been orbiting in this galaxy, in conjunction with all other planets and bodies in the entire visible and invisible universe. And it would appear that she has not varied any of her speeds (orbital, elliptical and axial) within the span of recorded history. If she does decide to change today, then all navigation would be rendered amiss, and I am told that the momentum change alone, would trigger total collapse. Evolutionists argue that 3000 years is only a blip since carbon-dating has suggested millions of years. Yet, if we accept expanding the time reference, how then do we substantiate the significance of a human life-span, projected to be at 70 years only. The psalmist in humility enquired “what is man, that Thou art mindful of him”. Observe the “what” and not the “who”. Are we then, the miniscule existent who audaciously thump our noses defiantly, insisting on our wisdom and right of choice?

And Samuel said, "Has 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 listen than the fat of rams. (1Sa 15:22)

King Saul would not understand that “obedience is better than sacrifice”. It has always been far more expedient to offer the burnt offerings of bulls and rams. The wicked who enrich themselves corruptly, will not find the task of procuring animals for sacrifice too onerous a task. Burnt offerings were a pre-cursor of the Ultimate Sacrifice, not quite the object of the LORD’s pleasure. One would be wise to also keep counsel, in knowing that all Job’s earlier children perished, despite Job requiting burnt sacrifices in anticipation of their misadventures. It will be the colossal naiveté to propose, that the Creator LORD of LORDS, the personified Truth, Justice and Righteousness, could be persuaded by the mere smell of burnt offerings.

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. (Heb 5:8)

This makes for concerned consideration; if the Son had to learn obedience, can we expect to be exempted and not accordingly tasked? There are plenty of good things that we can submit; to be good for food, a thing to be desired, delightful to the eyes, able to make us wise, successful and rich even. Why, we can, confidently propose that pursuant to our accomplishing, all that we, would find desirous, we, will be able to make even better contributions and sacrifices.

To obey is preceded by hearing; are we familiar with His voice? When and what, was the last we heard? Who do we listen to? We are taught that we should be always thankful for His grace and it is indisputable that we are saved only by grace. Yet, does grace reduce, by any degree, the requirement of obedience? Is obedience negotiable? Can it be piecemealed? Can it be deferred? Can it be navigated? Is there such a thing, as a small thing?

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Mat 7:21)


God bless.





/ckh