Theme of the month: LIVE HAPPY... TODAY

DAY 8: LIVE HAPPY... AND OBEDIENT TO GOD

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Achan and Noah. What do these two men have in common?

In Joshua 6, God commanded Joshua and his warriors not to take any spoils from the city of Jericho when it is destroyed. Achan, one of the Israeli soldiers, ignored God’s command and took pretty clothes, silver and gold and buried it in his tent. This made God angry. During the Israeli’s next battle, thirty six men die. Joshua and the rest of the warriors were shocked. Didn’t God promise to protect them against their enemy and to give them victory?

In Joshua 7 we read that Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before God, pleading for an answer to make sense from the situation. God answered him: One man’s disobedience to God caused their defeat. The next day Achan was identified as the guilty man, and he and his family were burned along with their belongings. One man’s disobedience destroyed himself and his descendants.

In Genesis 6 we read that the sin of Adam and Eve’s descendants grieved God and He was sorry that He had ever made man. God was at the point of destroying mankind. But then He saw Noah. A fair man. A man who walked blameless before Him and God decided to save Noah and his family. He commanded Noah to build an ark and when the rain came down, Noah’s descendents were safe. One man’s obedience saved his family and gave them a new life after the flood.

Throughout the Bible, the importance of obedience to God is emphasized. In Exodus 20:5-6 God said: “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” In John 14:15 Jesus says: “If you love me, keep my commands.” And in Psalm 112:1-2 we read: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.”

Do you realize that your obedience or disobedience to God influences your descendents? Even if you are the only believer in your family, you can be sure that your obedience will leave a lasting legacy of blessing for your descendents. God bless.

Father God, thank you for my family. Help me to be obedient to Your Spirit’s voice daily and to stay close to You. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense, Wysheid-oordenkings uit Spreuke and Hoop in tye van nood-oordenkings uit Psalms.