How God Sees Partial Obedience

In 1 Samuel 15:3, God said to Saul, “now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass”. In response to God, he gathered his armies, went against the Amalekites, and conquered them because God went with him.

It was after he’d conquered and returned that God sent prophet Samuel to him, while the people were rejoicing and celebrating the victory; it was a huge conquest. But God had a score to settle with Saul, so he sent his servant to him.

At Samuel’s appearance, Saul greeted saying, “blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:13. KJV)) but Samuel responded, “what meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” 1 Samuel 15:14 (KJV)

As far as Saul was concerned, he had obeyed God completely and deserved a well-done from God or at least from the man God, but what he got was a rebuke, a very harsh one; God had rejected him.

What did he do wrong? He’d obeyed God partially and disobeyed him a bit; he’d killed all the people except their king and killed all the animals except the goodly ones which he considered good for sacrifice. God’s instruction however was, “utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass”.

Aren’t you like Saul? Have you obeyed all that God commanded or have you chosen to obey some while disobeying others? If you have not been judged yet, it is because God is extending mercy to you. What will you do with God’s mercy?

Go into today knowing that partial obedience is tantamount to disobedience and rebellion in God’s sight.

Prayer: ask the Lord to forgive your past disobediences and ask for grace to obey him wholely henceforth.
—Dr. Emmanuel James

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