Articles

Obedience is better than sacrifice

Written by Dede Abebreser Tsonyake.

"“But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” "(NIV) 1 Samuel 15:22

As children, anytime we did something contrary to the instructions of our parents even if we had good reasons, we were punished. As a child, I thought my parents were “initiative killers” anytime we get punished for this. Then I grew up and appreciated the fact that they were instilling in us one of the most important biblical principle - OBEDIENCE.

1 Samuel 15 tells us how King Saul lost favour with God because he went contrary to an instruction from God. His reason for doing what he did made human sense but God is not looking for human sense, He is looking for total obedience to His word and instructions. The message from God through the prophet Samuel to Saul was that, Saul should go and destroy the Amalekites and everything that belongs to them. The instruction was so clear but Saul decided to spare the life of Agag, King of the Amalekites and brought with him everything that looks good to him including sheep, cattle, fat calves and lambs. Saul’s reason for bringing back the best of these animals was to sacrifice them to God but God rejected that excuse as well as his sacrifice. Saul lost favour with God as well as his kingship of Israel.

2 Samuel 6:1-7 tells us how Uzzah was struck down and died by God because he reached out and touched the ark of God to save it from falling because the oxen carrying the ark stumbled. Why will a good intention be rewarded with death as a punishment? The ark of God/Covenant/Testimony served as house for the two tables of stone on which the Ten Commandments were written (Hebrews 9:4, Exodus 25:16, 22). It also serves as the throne of divine presence (Numbers 10:33-36). There are rules governing the ark of God. Only the Levites can carry the ark and other people are not allowed to touch, look into or even get closer to the ark (Numbers 4, Joshua 3:1-3, Deuteronomy 10:8, 1 Samuel 6:19). So Uzzah was punished for disobedience even though his intentions were right. He had no right to touch the ark. He wasn’t a Levite. Many will be asking how these two examples in the Old Testaments affects us today? The way God dealt with the people of old is different from today but these stories in the Old Testaments are supposed to be examples for us so that we don’t do same.

God puts a lot of premium on obedience such that, punishments that come from God does to people or persons who go contrary to His word. Adam and Eve, the people of Noah’s days, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Israelites and many others were all punished one way or the other and even today, He has assured us that punishment awaits those who disobeyed. It will be sad to be punished because you disobeyed even though your intentions were so good. God bless you.

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