Blind Obedience
Daily Old Testament Reading: Genesis 4-6
Daily Focus Passage: Genesis 6
When we follow the Lord, He often calls us to follow Him without knowing the future or understanding every step of the journey. This call challenges our faith and allows us to demonstrate faithfulness to the Lord. In Genesis 6, Noah received a call from the Lord to step out in faith by building an ark. This call came as the Lord prepared to judge the world for sin and sought to use the righteous Noah to replenish the earth. When we look at Noah, we need to assess if our faith would follow the Lord blindly.
THE CHALLENGING CALL
Noah received a call from the Lord to build an ark on dry land. The call came as the Lord saw the righteousness of Noah and chose to use this righteous one for His will. The call challenged Noah because it forced him to overcome the threat of logic and ability. Noah had to overcome the reality that a boat was not needed on dry land and why it would rain. Yet, Noah looked past the logic of humanity and followed the Lord with blind obedience.
At the same time, Noah faced the challenge of completing an impossible task. Noah needed to construct a vessel he had probably never seen or imagined. He had to rest entirely on the word coming from the Lord concerning how to build this boat. Yet, Noah demonstrated how we must lean into the calling of the Lord and follow with blind obedience that trust in the Lord to make the impossible possible.
THE FAITHFUL FOLLOWING
The faith of Noah became evident in his steps of obedience. He took steps into the unknown and followed the calling of the Lord. The response indicated that Noah trusted the Lord to provide the needed strength and resources to carry out the task. Noah did not ask for the entire story before the first step but stepped out in faith, trusting in the truthful nature of God’s Word and call.
When we seek to follow the Lord, we often need to step out in faithfulness. This step means that we demonstrate a complete reliance upon the Lord and reject the threat of stalling because of the doubt of the flesh. We need to see the obedience of Noah and analyze our ability to follow a challenging call in a faithful step of following.
THE WORK OF THE LORD
God’s call to Noah centers entirely on the work of the Lord. Noah needed to trust in the work of the Lord in his life for guidance and strength to complete the task ahead. When the Lord calls his children to a task, he enables them to carry it out because he is at work before them, with them, and after them. When we recognize the promise of the work of the Lord, we become more likely to overcome the doubts of the flesh and step out, following him in obedience.
When we consider the Lord’s calling, are we stepping out in blind obedience? Do we want to know the entire story before we take a willful step? Take a few moments to seek the Lord’s guidance and ask the Lord to strengthen you to take the step of blind obedience where needed.
