Obedience or Sacrifice?

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Sometimes, I think we don’t take obedience to God’s Word seriously enough. We should because obedience is a big deal to God. The best way to see it is to learn from those who have disobeyed. 

One example that stands out is King David’s predecessor, Saul. God instructed him to wipe out the Amalekites completely - people, property, animals… everything. But he didn’t do it. Rather than complete obedience, he kept some things including oxen and sheep. 

The prophet Samuel confronted Saul when he heard the bleating of the animals. Saul changed his tune quickly and made up a story that the animals were spared so that they could be sacrificed to God. 

Listen to Samuel’s profound response: “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 heed than the fat of rams” [1 Samuel 15.22].

There it is; God wants obedience. Obedience is better in two ways:

You can’t make up by sacrifice what you lose through disobedience. Even had he sacrificed the animals, it was too late. God had given Saul's right to be King to another. 

Furthermore, obedience is preventative. Had he obeyed the Lord, there would have been no need to sacrifice for that particular sin. Obedience would have prevented it. 

Obedience is God’s way. God’s way is always best.

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” [1 Samuel 15.22b].