PRÉCIS ON YAHWEH’S DEMAND FOR COURAGEOUS OBEDIENCE: NO HOLDING BACK IN FORMER TIMES OR IN THE LAST TIMES

SCRIPTURE. “Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the persons [servants] that they had acquired in Haran, and they went forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan.” ― GENESIS 12:5, AMPC

KEY TERM: “CAME.” ‘Bo!’ [בּוֹא]: In the simplest of terms, “‘Go!’ also, to besiege, go down to war; to come against [all hindrances]; to invade, enter or pass through; to light upon an enemy; to come into; implies worship by a congregation; to ascend or rise up; to reap a harvest; to bring forward; to attain to [a Command or Promise].”

QUOTATION. “‘When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change;’ at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. ‘A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.’” ― PAULO COELHO, The Devil and Miss Prym, 2009; edited

COMMENTARY. “Abram believed that the blessing of the Almighty would make up for all he could lose or leave behind, supply all his wants, and answer and exceed all his desires; ‘and he knew that nothing but misery would follow disobedience.’ Such believers, being justified by faith in Christ, have peace with God. They hold on their way to Canaan. They are not discouraged by the difficulties in their way, nor drawn aside by the delights they meet with. ‘Those who set out for Heaven must persevere to the end.’ What we undertake, in obedience to God’s Command, and in humble attendance on His Providence, will certainly succeed, and end with comfort at last.” ― MATTHEW HENRY, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

DK. Beloved, I seem completely unable to move away from The Theme that the Lord has been deep drilling into me for these past several years to share with God’s Church: “Obedience is better than sacrifice!” (1 Samuel 15:22). Nothing else in the entire Universe of Truth shall make God gladder than this. Recall here the Parable of the Two Sons who were asked to engage a task for their father. The first said, “No,” but later repented and obeyed. The Second said, “Yes,” but did not do as he promised.

Jesus asks: “Which of the two sons did the will of his father?” The disciples rightly answered: “The first.”– MATTHEW 21:28-31

Friends of God, I beseech you, be like unto the First Son, and have the humility and courage to carry out God’s Commands. As the Prophet who once boldly declared that he would deliver a hard Word to an obstinate people (likely with trembling knees):

“Here am I, Lord. Send me!”  – ISAIAH 6:8