Daily Journal: 24 October

The Way of Obedience

When the Israelites faced continued oppression and were crying out to God to intervene, he made known to Moses what He wanted Moses to do about it.

Psalm 103:6-7 (NIV)

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.

God sees the way ahead of us and shows us which way to take, if we’re listening. He showed Moses, and Moses listened.

Moses didn’t believe He could do what God was asking of Him. He fully relied on God for everything God asked Him to do because everything God asked him to do was too big for Moses. He argued with God before He was willing.

Exodus 33:15 (NASB)

Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.

Moses felt daunted but he knew God was faithful and God held the plan.

Sometimes, what God asks of us doesn’t always make sense.

God sent Hagar back to Sarai when she had run away from Sarai’s mistreatment (Genesis 16:9).

Noah didn’t know what a flood was but he was given a plan for redemption by building a ship (Genesis 6:15).

Joshua was given a plan for victory that had nothing to do with conventional warfare (Joshua 6:2-5).

Esther was positioned as a Jewish Queen in a Persian court to save Israel at just the right moment (Esther 4:14).

Jesus was made perfect through His obedience to the Father through suffering.

Hebrews 5:7-9 (GWT)

Although Jesus was the Son of God, he learned to be obedient through his sufferings. After he had finished his work, he became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who obeys him.

The humbling of self in the act of obedience causes our internal walls to shake but once we’re resolved to obedience, the external walls that God wants to shake will crumble. God can begin something He wouldn’t otherwise be able to do, once we’re resolved to obedience. It may seem daunting, but from that position of surrender, we trust God will move ahead of us and act on our behalf.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Isaiah 30:21 (EHV)

Whenever you are tempted to turn to the right or to the left, you will hear his voice behind you, saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.”