Obedient Children

When I think about the words “Obedient Children,” I think of the third commandment. “Honor your father and mother so that you'll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.” Since it was recently mother’s day, I thought I would write about the other half of that mother-child set. Just like the strong mothers, there were children who have been talked about in the bible who were strong in their faith and righteousness, even in the roughest times, and were incredibly blessed for it.

The first example I can think of is Joseph, the second-youngest son of Jacob, who was incredibly obedient and loyal to his father. He was so loyal, in fact, that Jacob made him a magnificent multi-colored coat, which made his older brothers very jealous. Even his father scolded him when he told his family of the dreams he was having.

Genesis 37: 9-10 (Message) He had another dream and told this one also to his brothers: "I dreamed another dream--the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to me!" When he told it to his father and brothers, his father reprimanded him: "What's with all this dreaming? Am I and your mother and your brothers all supposed to bow down to you?"

When he was sold into slavery by his brothers at around seventeen years old, Joseph continued to remain strong in his faith in God, and continued to be blessed with the gifts of receiving visions and translating dreams. In this way, he showed that he was not only obedient to his parents, but also to God. Through his constant obedience, throughout the temptations he faced (Potiphar’s wife), the hardships he endured (being thrown into prison after being falsely accused), and being brought before Pharaoh to interpret his dreams, Joseph was blessed with a powerful life. He used not only his influence, but also his God-given gifts, to save thousands of people from starvation during the seven-year famine, including his brothers and their families.

After many years, Joseph and his father were finally reunited, and Joseph was able to give Jacob a comfortable life for the last seventeen years of Jacob’s life. In Genesis 47, at the end of his life, Jacob makes one final request of Joseph.

Genesis 49: 29-31 (Message): When the time came for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said, "Do me this favor. Put your hand under my thigh, a sign that you're loyal and true to me to the end. Don't bury me in Egypt. When I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me alongside them." "I will," he said. "I'll do what you've asked." Israel said, "Promise me." Joseph promised. Israel bowed his head in submission and gratitude from his bed.

Because of this promise, and because Joseph hand been a great asset to the kingdom of Egypt, Pharaoh allowed Joseph to take his father’s body back to Canaan to be buried, sending dignitaries and high officials of Egypt along with him to give Jacob a grand funeral procession. Talk about fulfilling your father’s last wish!

In my Mother’s Day post, I talked about Hannah being a strong mother, giving her oldest son, Samuel, to the service of God. Well, Samuel himself is another very strong example of obedience at a young age. Because of the wickedness of the sons of Eli, who were influencing the people to do bad things, God needed a new face of righteousness as an example to the people. Because he was honoring his mother’s promise to God, Samuel strove to do everything correctly, unlike what Eli’s sons were doing. One night, God visited Samuel.

1 Samuel 3: 4-18 (Message) Then God called out, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Yes? I'm here." Then he ran to Eli saying, "I heard you call. Here I am." Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed." And so he did. God called again, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, "I heard you call. Here I am." Again Eli said, "Son, I didn't call you. Go back to bed." (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.) God called again, "Samuel!"--the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, "Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am." That's when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, "Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, "Speak, God. I'm your servant, ready to listen.'" Samuel returned to his bed. Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen." God said to Samuel, "Listen carefully. I'm getting ready to do something in Israel that is going to shake everyone up and get their attention. The time has come for me to bring down on Eli's family everything I warned him of, every last word of it. I'm letting him know that the time's up. I'm bringing judgment on his family for good. He knew what was going on, that his sons were desecrating God's name and God's place, and he did nothing to stop them. This is my sentence on the family of Eli: The evil of Eli's family can never be wiped out by sacrifice or offering." Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then rose early and went about his duties, opening the doors of the sanctuary, but he dreaded having to tell the vision to Eli. But then Eli summoned Samuel: "Samuel, my son!" Samuel came running: "Yes? What can I do for you?" "What did he say? Tell it to me, all of it. Don't suppress or soften one word, as God is your judge! I want it all, word for word as he said it to you." So Samuel told him, word for word. He held back nothing. Eli said, "He is God. Let him do whatever he thinks best."

Even though that must have been a very difficult message to relate, Samuel passed the test, and went on to be the prophet of the entire Israelite nation. Imagine having to tell your boss, or even your pastor, that because of the sins of his children, he would lose his company or his pastor-ship of the church. Unfortunately, many family businesses do go under because the children are dishonest and steal from the company, making it so that the company loses money and is not able to keep up with expenses without going into debt.

Other examples of obedient children include David and Daniel. They were both quite young when they began their walks with God. David obeyed his father, who gave him the task of taking food and check up on his brothers who were in the army, and was instrumental in saving the entire nation for slavery under the Philistines by defeating Goliath. After becoming an outcast by King Saul, he was anointed as the next king of Israel, and people began to fall in to back him up, forming an army of rebels, although they ultimately worked to help King Saul’s army defeat the Philistines and free the Israelite nation again.

Daniel was taken from his home in Israel to Babylon along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (their original names were changed upon arriving in Babylon). They refused to eat the rich foods served to them by the king. There was a certain health code within the Law of Moses that they refused to go against. At the end of a ten-day test, the four boys were proven to be much healthier than the other boys who had gone against that health code. Because of their obedience to God’s laws, they were granted high positions of knowledge within the king’s court, and they were found to be much more insightful and wise than any of the other advisors.

Another is an unnamed boy who gave up his five loaves of bread and two fish to Jesus, who used them to perform a miracle, feeding the large crowd and leaving enough for twelve baskets of bread. The faith and obedience of one little boy gave Jesus an opportunity to do a miracle that benefited countless numbers of people. How’s that for faith?

Of course, the greatest example that I can think of in terms of childlike obedience is Jesus Himself. He knew that the end of his mortal life was going to be very tough. He even asked God the Father to get him out of the situation if possible for His plan, but also knew that it was necessary that the things that were about to happen were absolutely essential to the salvation of the entire world – past, present and future – and if these things weren’t done, everyone that had, did, or would live on Earth would be forever damned. There were second thoughts, and Jesus didn’t want it to happen, but he was absolutely obedient, dying on the cross to save everyone.

When I was growing up, there was a song that I grew up singing in kids’ church called “Jesus Once Was A Little Child” that goes like this:

Jesus once was a little child,
A little child like me,
And he was pure and meek and mild,
As a little child should be

He played as little children played
The pleasant games of youth,
And he never got vexed when the game went wrong
And He always told the truth

(Chorus)
So, little children, let’s you and I
Try to be like him, try, try, try.

I’m going to do something that the pastors and speakers at Jesus Lifehouse always do at the end of their messages, and include a prayer for anyone reading this that this has touched, to ask God to grant them the strength, as well as the humility, to once again dedicate themselves to obey God’s word.

Dear Jesus, thank you for the people who are reading this message. Thank you for the opportunity I have to share the word that you have put on my heart to share on my blog. Lord God, if there is anyone reading this right now that needs to recommit themselves to obeying your words, and honoring their parents, bless them with the determination to do that! You’ve said, Lord, that unless we become like little children, we can’t enter your kingdom. Bless these people who may have their hands up and their hearts open to you, Lord Jesus; bless them so that they will continue to improve their lives by following your word in the Bible. I’m including myself in this request, Lord God. I too need to improve myself, with your help, in obeying your commandments and laws more fully. We all need to improve, including me, and I know that through you, all things are possible. We know that no one but you is perfect in the entire universe, but through you we are made free from slavery and death. Thank you, Lord God.

Lord God, I also ask you to touch the heart of anyone reading this who isn’t a Christian yet, who may have been invited to read this blog by a friend, or were guided to find this blog by something else. They may be searching for an answer to some of life’s big questions, or they are facing challenges in their lives that they just can’t seem to overcome. Please, open their hearts to want to know you, to know that you love them. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

If that’s you, then I encourage you to pray the following prayer. It’s a prayer that we encourage everyone at Jesus Lifehouse Church who raises their hand to receive Jesus to say.

Dear Jesus, I believe in you. Thank you for forgiving me. Come into my life, and I will follow you.

If you’ve prayed this prayer, please, tell your Christian friend about the decision you’ve made to become Christian as well. They will be able to continue to guide you. They’ll pray with you, and you’ll be able to begin a whole new life!

Thank you so much for reading this blog! Please, share it with others! This is for the entire world!