What other biblical figures were tested in their obedience to God's instructions? The Setting in 1 Kings 13:9 “For I was commanded by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’” (1 Kings 13:9) The unnamed prophet’s simple directive—no food, no water, no back-tracking—became a test of undiluted obedience. Scripture echoes that same pattern in many lives. Abraham – Offering Isaac (Genesis 22) • “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love… and offer him there as a burnt offering.” (v. 2) • Abraham rose early, built the altar, and “the LORD provided” (v. 14). • Obedience brought covenant affirmation: “because you have obeyed My voice” (v. 18). Noah – Building an Ark (Genesis 6–7) • “So Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.” (6:22). • A century of construction, no rain in sight—yet obedience preserved a remnant. Moses – Speaking to the Rock (Numbers 20) • “Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water.” (v. 8). • Moses struck instead of speaking; the consequence: “You will not bring this assembly into the land.” (v. 12). • Even seasoned leaders are tested and held accountable. Joshua – Marching Around Jericho (Joshua 6) • “March around the city… do this for six days.” (v. 3). • Human strategy said “attack”; God said “march.” Walls fell when obedience met faith. Gideon – Downsizing the Army (Judges 7) • “With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you.” (v. 7). • Obedience meant trading numbers for dependence, making victory unmistakably God’s. Saul – Destroying Amalek (1 Samuel 15) • Command: total destruction. • Saul spared the king and the best livestock. • “To obey is better than sacrifice.” (v. 22). The throne’s dynasty ended over half-hearted obedience. Jonah – Going to Nineveh (Jonah 1–3) • Initial flight exposed rebellion. • “Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD.” (3:3). • God’s patience turned a runaway into a revivalist. Daniel and Friends – Worship Tests (Daniel 3; 6) • Three Hebrews refused the golden image: “But even if He does not, we will not serve your gods.” (3:18). • Daniel kept praying though it meant lions’ den: “He knelt… three times a day and prayed.” (6:10). • Obedience under pressure showcased God’s deliverance. Jesus – Wilderness Temptation (Matthew 4) • “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone…’” (v. 4). • Perfect obedience to every Scripture rebutted every lure, modeling victorious faith. Patterns to Notice • God’s instructions often appear counter-intuitive—yet they reveal His sufficiency. • The test may involve surrendering what we cherish, adopting strategies that seem weak, or standing firm under threat. • Blessing follows obedience, while compromise carries lasting consequences. From the nameless prophet in 1 Kings 13 to the Savior in the wilderness, Scripture keeps spotlighting obedience as the hinge on which God’s purposes swing. |
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