Obedience Is Better than Sacrifice

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Saul, Israel’s first king, learned first hand that ‘obedience is better than sacrifice.’ Even if you give Saul the benefit of the doubt that he had a pure motive, his disobedience brought great sorrow to him, his family, and the nation of Israel. Here’s the short version of what happened:

God told Saul to slay the Amalekites and take no prisoners, not even a single animal. He was to wipe them out completely. Although Saul was victorious in the battle against them, he allowed King Agag to live, and took the best of the cattle to sacrifice to the Lord.

But because of his disobedience, the prophet Samuel informed Saul that his family would no longer reign over Israel. That’s when he heard those profound words, “obedience is better than sacrifice.”

Even though he offered the very best animals as a sacrifice to God, it failed to excuse his disobedience. And the consequences were enormous. Not only did Saul lose his right to be the King, but also later in Israel’s history, the infamous Haman, an Agagite [Esther 3:1], rose to power and tired to destroy the entire Jewish population of Persia.

If Saul had only obeyed! Saul isn’t the only one who needed to learn this lesson. Every Christ follower should take it to heart. There were immediate and long-term consequences of his disobedience—his sin. So it is with us. Those “little” sins [if there is such a thing as ‘little’ sins], turn into footholds that, if not dealt with completely early on, lead to strongholds that threaten to destroy your walk with God, your calling, even your life.

God forbid! Dear Christ follower, “take no prisoners” when it comes to sin. You have a precious relationship that was purchased at great cost.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 2nd Corinthians 10:3-6