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Reading 1 Samuel Ch.15, we can learn how God instructed king Saul through His prophet Samuel to destroy the Amalekites including all animals like sheep, ox, etc. However, Saul has spared the life of the king of Amalekites, Agag and took spoils from the battle. We know that this is completely against the commandment of the Lord. God was very displeased, and He spoke to Samuel and sent him to confront Saul to ask him why he disobeyed His commandment. Then Saul tried to justify his sin by saying that all the spoils like sheep will be offered to the Lord as sacrifice. God was displeased with Saul not only because he disobeyed His commandments but also, he tried to justify his sins. The consequence was that the anointing was taken from him as king of Israel. So, we learned that there is a great danger and consequence of disobedience to God followed by justification of our sins.

If we look back in the event at the Garden of Eden, we see a similar problem as Adam and Eve disobeyed God and justified their sins to the Lord – this sin led to the Fall of mankind. Also, Saul later confessed that one of the reasons he disobeyed God is that he feared the people and therefore listened to their voice.

We must remember that as dear children of God, we must hearken to the voice of God above all and as His sheepfold we should know the voice of our Good Shepperd our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is a faithful saying that, “Obedience to the word of God is better than sacrifice to God”, and our Lord Jesus Christ confirmed this in Matthew 7 v24, Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and also in Luke 11 v28, But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Obedience precedes sacrifice.

Whilst it is true that there are many occasions where God was pleased through the offered sacrifices made by His servants/people like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Elijah etc. but the important thing to learn from these sacrifices, that it was done in an act of faith and full obedience to God’s instruction. So, we learned that anything done in sincere faith will lead to pleasing God. Hebrews 11 v6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. For example, in Genesis 22, when God has tested the faith of Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his only son. Abraham must have possessed great faith and trust in God to obey His commandment in sacrificing his beloved son, Isaac. What pleases God, is not just Isaac being sacrificed but most importantly is the kind of faith Abraham had to obey His instruction. Abraham believed that God will provide a sacrifice.

We know that this is a prophetic event to foreshadow the sacrifice of God himself by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ on the same place where Isaac was to be offered, Mount Moriah. We can say that Isaac is a type of Christ; Isaac carried the firewood that will be used for his altar of sacrifice whilst our Lord carried His wooden cross, to become His altar of sacrifice. Our loving Father in Heaven has sent His Son Jesus and our Lord voluntary gave Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, the paschal lamb for mankind’s sin. Praise be to the Lord, truly God provides (Jehovah-Jireh).

Therefore, we can learn that obedience to God must always precede offered sacrifices. However, we may also consider that the greatest form of sacrifice is our obedience to God and this is our reasonable service to the Lord. Romans 12 v1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.