Obedience

This was a hard time for the Israelites. The Babylonians had taken some of the Jews into captivity and the remnant that remained sought to enquire of the Lord. They were fearful and wanted to run from the Babylonians into Egypt, because one of the governors had been assassinated by Ishmael. But it was a time to take a risk and they were ready to obey the Lord no matter what He told them to do. Egypt looked like the safest place to run to but the Lord warned them against going to Egypt, because there was calamity ahead.

Sometimes the Lord tells us to do something that looks like a risk to us. Our opinion may seem better than what the Lord might have to say about the next step in our life. This is where we have to make a choice. It’s not easy to be obedient in such circumstances. It’s a matter of whom we will obey. Who is in control, us or the Lord?

When we know our God, we’ll understand that He knows what’s best and we can learn to trust His judgements and directions.

Taking risk demands courage and trust. Trust brings about the courage we need to be able to move in obedience to God’s will in our lives. We can’t fully obey if we can’t fully trust!

Let’s look at it this way. When babies are learning to take their first steps, mum is standing in front waiting for them to move towards her. Unless they are able to fully trust that mum won’t let them fall, they are unlikely to move.

In the same way we need to trust in God and move into His will for our lives with child-like trust that He knows the way ahead, all the obstacles, and, most importantly, the joy that comes as the fruit of obedience to Him.

‘Trust and obey for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and
obey’.

Prayer: Lord, I know that my life is in Your hands and I can trust You in all circumstances, though sometimes I find it difficult to trust. Please help me to trust and obey Your will. Amen.