Here’s basically what drives many people to God today. They come to God with a consumeristic mind-set. They come to God with conditions on their obedience.
They say things like:
- God, if You can fix my marriage then perhaps I’ll obey You.
- God, if You can get me out of debt then perhaps I’ll obey You.
- God, if You heal my grandma then perhaps I’ll obey You.
- God, if You find me the perfect mate then perhaps I’ll obey You.
It’s a “If you scratch my back I will scratch yours” type of mentality.
One of the most amazing stories in all of scripture about unconditional obedience is about Abraham. God spoke to Abraham and said “I want you to offer your son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to me.”
It’s an amazing story because when I look at this story I go “No way! Here’s where it stops. I left Ur, I did this, I did that, I was faithful, no way! You’re not taking my kid.”
I think most fathers would feel this way about their kids. I love You God but I don’t fear you that much.
But Abraham did!
In one of the most amazing acts of obedience, this father takes his son up to the top of a mountain, puts him on an altar, and raises up a knife to sacrifice his son and here’s what God says in His goodness in Genesis 22:12,
“Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
In John 14:15 Jesus clearly lays it out. He said:
“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
The greatest evidence of the fear of God is obedience to God. When we truly fear God we will obey Him without any conditions.
What conditions have you heard people put on their obedience to God? What conditions have you put on your obedience to God?
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This post is part of a 3 part series on what happens when we our fear/our awe of God increases:
1. What does it mean to fear God?
2. We will obey Him without any conditions.
3. We will be forever ruined.
This may or may not be relevant, but after Abraham’s would-be human sacrifice of Isaac, the Bible doesn’t record any more encounters between God and Abraham. Is it possible that there’s a subtle commentary that sometimes we hear God incorrectly–and God sometimes uses a more definitive approach? (The angel in verses 11 and 12.) Just a thought.
That’s an interesting thought James. I believe that this was definitely a test of Abraham’s faithfulness to God. He heard God right and He trusted God with the outcome mo matter what.
So many deals we try to make, but they never hold up. We can’t or don’t keep our part, but God is always faithful. When we can truly understand who He is (as much as that’s possible) then we can rightfully fear–reverence and honor Him. Good word, Kevin! Thank you.
Yep! That is so true Jason. We can never live up to our conditions that we put on obedience. Our obedience must be unconditional.
Thanks for sharing!