Experience God’s blessings through wholehearted obedience

In Deuteronomy 20:16-18, we read that God told the children of Israel to destroy the Canaanites in the lands which they conquered. Leviticus 18 explains the rationale behind God’s directives. The Israelites however, chose to coexist with the Canaanites, making them tributaries, instead of totally driving them out. The action of the Israelites suggested that God’s request was not totally possible nor not totally necessary. As a result, they complied partially, which amounted to disobedience. Any form of partial compliance is disobedience, and disobedience is equivalent to rebellion against God. 

Many times as I reflect on Israel’s journey out of the wilderness and into the promised land, like Joshua‬ ‭17‬:‭13‬, I often question their choices and find myself thinking, why? Israel why? Then I am reminded of my own similar shortcomings, that I am the same at times.  Comparing my actions to theirs, I ponder why I sometimes struggle to follow instructions; Asking myself, why? Nattayah why? 

”Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.“. Joshua‬ ‭17‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The more I reflect on the scriptures, the more I see the recurring theme of disobedience, indicating that one of Israel’s major challenge was that of consistent obedience. Because of this struggle to completely trust the Lord and fully obey as God leads, they faced many challenges which would otherwise be averted – only if they were fully obedient.  Many many years after Israel’s journey to take hold of God’s promises, many of us still struggle to trust the Lord completely, especially in our own pursuit of God’s promises. Even though, like them, we have seen the mighty hand of the Lord working in our lives, we still hesitate to follow wholeheartedly. 

Ever so often, God instructs us to utterly destroy detrimental relationships, habits or ways, but we often make a few partial adjustments, and say “all done”.  Or we give them up for a week, then return to them or even rationalize why it’s better to stay unchanged. Similarly to Israel, when we partially obey His voice or His words, our actions suggest that what God is asking is too great or totally unnecessary. Remember, actions speak louder than words.

This reluctance to wholeheartedly follow the Lord’s guidance can lead to delays and prolonged struggles. As a result, what should have taken us 40 days, ended up taking us 4 months or 4 years or even 40 years. 

The Canaanites, spared by the Iraelites, later became a source of oppression, and drew them away from the true and living God. Consequently, God used the very thing that Israel refused to completely destroy to judge them when they went astray.  As God allowed the Canaanites to enslave them. 

This has me wondering, could the thing we refuse to destroy be holding us prisoners?- captivating our hearts and minds; and negativity impacting our relationships with God. Could the things that we refuse to completely remove from our lives be driving us away from God? Is it possible that the struggles we are facing are a result of our disobedience? Could we actually avert struggles by being obedient? What do you think?

‭‭Ephesians‬ 2‬:‭4‬ ”But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much.

Despite our rebellion and partial obedience, God remains faithful. ‭‭Ephesians‬ 2‬:‭4 reminds us of God’s rich mercy and love. He is constantly extending grace and the wealth of His kindness towards us. He reaches out to us, answers our prayers, delivers us, and provides for our needs. Yet, the call remains for us to turn and obey wholeheartedly to experience greater blessings

We belong to God, and He wants nothing more than for His children to trust and obey Him, and for our ways to be pleasing to Him. So, let’s examine our hearts, assessing if there is anything that needs complete removal or any area that we’ve only partially obeyed. If so, let’s commit to change today. God is waiting on your total obedience to do greater and mighty things in your  life.

Trust and obey, trust and obey, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey. This song echoes a timeless truth. May we live it daily trusting and obeying on the God directed path.

See you along the God directed path.

Be blessed.