Articles
Obedience or Sacrifice?
In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul is told by God to go on a mission. God specifically sends him to a people known as the Amalekites. Saul, with much fervor and energy, goes and seemingly accomplishes the mission God sent him on. However, later in the chapter we learn that God is very displeased with Saul’s actions and He chastises him to the point that He removes Saul from being King over all Israel. The problem? Saul simply did not obey. Saul was given a list of specific instructions by God Himself to go and destroy all the Amalekites and their livestock. Not one thing from among them was supposed to remain alive.
To Saul it seemed good that he would bring back the King of Amalek alive along with the choicest of the livestock and offer them as burnt offerings to God. On the surface he seemed to have a pretty good idea. But God does not take delight in sacrifices over obedience. Although Saul’s intentions may have seemed good on the surface, his heart was misplaced. He chose to sin the moment he chose to neglect God’s commands.
Today, many people have a similar mindset. Many people believe that by simply sacrificing a couple hours a week to go to services or giving extra money etc. will substitute for a week-long lifestyle of sin and disobedience. No such thing is recorded or ever taught in scriptures as pleasing in the sight of God. We see plenty of instances in scriptures, however, where man believes it is just to practice such ideals.
In the book of Micah, the people of Judah are so involved in these ideals that any course of obedience to God is forgotten. When Micah rebukes them for their wicked ways and commands them to repent, their first line of thought is how many sacrifices will God need for Him to pardon their iniquities. Are we like that? They go as far as even suggesting that they are willing to offer up their own children if that is what it will take to appease God. Friends, we ought not to think that our Lord will take precedence of sacrifice over obedience. God calls each and every one of us to live a life of obedience first and foremost. Sacrifices are a part of that and welcomed many a times, but it must never be thought that it will substitute for obedience. May we always seek to obey God in all things.
