The Blessings of Obedience (Andrew Murray)

…This blessing continued for Isaac: "I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham .... because that Abraham obeyed my voice" (Genesis 26:3, 5). When will we learn how unspeakably pleasing obedience is in God's sight? When will we understand how great the reward is that He bestows because of obedience? To be a blessing to the world, be obedient. Let God and the world know you by this one characteristic-a will completely given up to God's will.

On Mount Sinai, God gave Moses this message: "If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people" (Exodus 19:5).

In the very nature of things, it cannot be otherwise. God's holy will is His glory and perfection. Only by entering His will through obedience is it possible to be His people. The Bible says nineteen times that Moses, while building the sanctuary where God was to dwell, acted "according to all that the LORD commanded him" (Exodus 40:16, for example). Because Moses obeyed God, "the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" (v, 34). "The glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering" (Leviticus 9:23-24).

God delights to dwell in the midst of His people's obedience. He crowns the obedient with His favor and presence.

After the forty years of wandering in the wilderness and its terrible revelation of the fruit of disobedience, the Hebrews were ready for a new beginning. They were about to enter Canaan. In describing the Hebrew nation at this time, the book of Deuteronomy uses the word obey and speaks of the blessing obedience brings more frequently than any other book. The whole idea is summed up in the words, "I set before you .... A blessing, if ye obey .... And a curse, if ye will not obey." (Deuteronomy 1:26-28).

Yes, a "blessing, if ye obey"! This is the key-note of the Christian life. Our Canaan, just like Paradise and heaven, is the place of blessing as well as the place of obedience. It would be wonderful if we could take it in! But beware of praying only for a blessing. Let us be concerned with obedience; God will take care of the blessing. Let your one thought as a Christian be how you can obey and please your God perfectly.