Did You Pass or Fail the Obedience Test?
Monday, January 6, 2025
“God confronts your logic to test your obedience.” – Os Hillman
From my experience, men operate more on logic and women depend more on emotion. I guess that is how God wired us and also why He created a helpmate for Adam because without Eve, he would have been incomplete (see Genesis 2:18).
In our marriage, I am the dreamer and Deanna is the pragmatist. I am also a spender whereas (thankfully), she is a saver. I tend to hold onto things for a while, but Deanna prefers to get rid of useless clutter. In other words, we balance and complement each other very well, which is one of the reasons why our marriage has lasted 39 years and counting.
In today’s quote, Os Hillman makes a very important point. Was it logical for Noah to build an ark in the middle of the desert, preparing for a worldwide flood when the earth had never experienced rain before (see Genesis 2:6-7)? Did it seem odd to Joshua that God would ask him to march around Jericho for six days and on the seventh, to do it seven times followed by trumpet blasts and a great shout?
How about when He instructed Abram to sacrifice his son Isaac, even though God had promised to make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky (see Genesis 15:5)?
Throughout Scripture, God called His people to place their logic aside and to act by faith. When they obeyed despite their reservations, God always fulfilled His promises and blessed His people. However, whenever they insisted on doing things their own way, trouble inevitably followed.
Just ask Abram about whether he regretted fathering a child with Hagar, from whom came Israel’s enemies… or Saul if he wished he hadn’t kept back the best of the livestock (and King Agag) when God told him to destroy every living thing in Amalek. The latter act of disobedience cost Saul his kingdom (see I Samuel 15:26).
My friend, just like Os Hillman said, sometimes God commands us to do something illogical to test our faith. I pray that when He does, we both receive passing grades.
“And Samuel said, ‘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 listen than the fat of rams.’” I Samuel 15:22 (ESV)
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 (BSB)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President