Obedience is Better than Sacrifice
If obedience were a song, it has been on repeat, blasting on every radio station. Its melody plays in the background of every decision and with every step, its dance corrects our feet.
Obedience has been a crucial part of my life lately. Some days are harder than others but every day, I continue to learn why obedience is better than sacrifice.
Today, let’s take a look at Genesis 3, the best example of why obedience is better than sacrifice. Anyone remember what the Lord commanded Adam?
Genesis 2:16-17 (NIV)
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
But here comes the serpent…
Genesis 3:1-4(NIV)
3 “ Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Pause, let’s recap…
God said that they WOULD die if they ate of that tree. (Genesis 2:17)
The serpent, who tricked her, “was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made” (Genesis 3:1).
The serpent, in his cunningness, lies and says that they will NOT die (Genesis 3:4).
Well, what happens next? Let’s keep reading.
Genesis 3:6 (NIV)
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.
You see, all the serpent had to do was plant the seed. In spite of the warning she received from the Lord, she acts on her inclination. The serpent never told Eve to eat of the fruit, for planting the desire in her heart was good enough knowing that her curiosity would do the rest. James 1:14-15 pre tells the ending of this tragedy: “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
The serpent only needed only to steer her away from the truth. Once this was accomplished, her curiosity and disobedience set the perfect trap for her demise. God, in His love and provision, WARNS Eve of the consequences of disobeying His Word, for HE knew and she did not. Job 24:23 says that “He provides them with security, and they are supported; And His eyes are on their ways.” What a Mighty God we serve!
Just as he did to Eve, the enemy does the same thing to us! He plants just enough curiosity to lead us astray and out of the will of God. One of the things that absolutely amazes me about God, is that He is ALWAYS right. I mean, He never misses, like ever! 🤯 Curiosity, impatience, and frustration are no match for his omniscience. Psalms 147:5 (NIV) tells us that “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” Because of our obedience, not only are we protected, but also blessed because we are intentionally choosing to put our faith and trust in He who loves and cares for us beyond measure.
See Deuteronomy 28:1 (NIV):
28 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.”
Questioning His command quenches the Holy Spirit when we choose to yield to our natural inclinations instead of submitting our fleshly desires unto the Lord. It happened with Eve and it happens with us too. But thank God for Jesus, “For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19) (NIV).
Lastly, 1 John 2:16 (NIV):
16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Let us not let our desires strip us of our obedience to the Lord. Lest we find ourselves, like Eve, casted out of paradise (or God’s will).