Trust and Obey

Devotions for Growing Christians

Many of us “old timers” will remember the chorus from this classic hymn:

Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey

We may not remember all the other words, but the main refrain conveys exactly what the Bible teaches.  The secret of spiritual happiness and blessing is simply to trust and obey the Lord! 

We know there are many biblical passages and character studies that teach this principle, but we’re going to look at the example of Jacob.  Jacob learned over and over again that "half-hearted" trust and obedience does not bring happiness and blessing.  In fact, lack of faith and partial obedience can bring serious consequences.  

Trusting God’s Promises

In Genesis 28, we find Jacob on the run. Jacob was the target of Esau's wrath because he stole the family rights and blessings (Genesis 25-27).  God had promised that Jacob would be blessed, but Jacob felt he had to cheat to get the official paternal blessing. Instead of waiting for God’s timing, Jacob showed his lack of faith by manipulating the Lord’s plan. As a result of Jacob’s decision, he had to run away from home. He had no idea he would be gone for 20 years, and that he would never see his beloved mother again.

As Jacob fled from Esau, he camped for the night at a place he named Bethel (Genesis 28). That night, God gave Jacob a dream in which He promised Jacob that He would watch over him, bless him greatly, and eventually bring him back to his homeland (28:13-15).  What grace!  Especially after Jacob’s shameful behavior of deceiving his father and stealing the blessing! 

God has made many promises to us too.  He’s promised to give us joy and contentment in Christ, and He’s promised to meet all our physical needs (see Matthew 6:33 and Philippians 4:19, for example).  We don’t have to manipulate the situation.  Trusting God's timing isn’t always easy, but as the hymn says, “there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus.”  

Even when we offer Him half-hearted faith and obedience, He’s faithful to His promises.  “The faithful love of the Lord never ends; His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness! His mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23).  Although there are consequences for lack of faith and token obedience, but God is gracious and "will complete the good work which He has begun in us" (Philippians 1:6).  

Bargaining with God

Jacob's response to God's declaration in the dream indicates his "mini-faith" at this time.  Jacob shows some faith by renaming the place, “Bethel” (28:19), which means "house of God."  But he wavered with these self-serving words, "If God will be with me and keep me...and give me...and bring me back safely... then the Lord will be my God (28:20-21).   

This does not sound like full trust and obedience, does it?  It seems like more of an attempt to bargain with God.  The Lord had stated His promises to Jacob in no uncertain terms, yet Jacob had the audacity to reply with an “if / then” type of faith! 

But before we judge Jacob too quickly, can we honestly say that we always give God our full trust and obedience?  Or must we confess that we sometimes bargain with God?  Self-centered trust and half-hearted obedience won’t bring true happiness or blessing.  Over the next 20 years Jacob had to learn this lesson repeatedly.

Growing in faith

In Genesis 31:13, the Lord told Jacob to return to his homeland.  He had endured some tough experiences over the past 20 years, and in obedience, Jacob packed up and headed home — knowing he would also have to face his brother Esau!  In Genesis 32, the night before his meeting with Esau, Jacob had a literal wrestling match with the angel of God.  During the scuffle, Jacob learned that he must be completely broken of self, and fully rely on God for blessing.   

Jacob had grown in faith and obedience during the 20 years. (Compare Jacob's prayers in 28:20 and 32:10).  But he still had a long way to go.  After his reconciliation with Esau, Jacob chose not to obey the Lord's directive.  He didn’t return to his homeland, but instead, he built a house and barns in the area of Succoth (33:17).  Soon Jacob and his family moved on to the outskirts of the pagan city of Shechem.  Genesis 34 records the tragedy that took place in Shechem where Jacob's daughter was raped, and his sons Levi and Simeon became liars and murderers. 

Christians today can make great strides forward in trust and obedience, but this doesn’t mean we are fail-proof.  Have you ever failed the Lord in the very area you thought you had just surrendered to Him?  We can expect bad fall-out when our faith and obedience falter – for us, and others around us!  God has given us many clear precepts and principles to guide our lives, and He calls us to simply trust Him and obey Him.  

Full obedience and blessing

In Genesis 35, Jacob finally listened.  The Lord told him to go back to Bethel, and build an altar to God.  Jacob obeyed!  His connections with paganism were severed, and Jacob came back to Bethel in obedience (35:2-6).  He built the altar, and God blessed him there (35:7-9).  If only he had gone back sooner!   

Will we look back and say the same thing about our lives?  Will we think, “If only we had fully trusted and obeyed God right from the start!”? 

God didn’t give up on Jacob.  He worked in Jacob's life, just as He continues to work in our lives.  There’s no short-cut to maturity for growing Christians.  God wants to make us “happy in Jesus,” but there’s no other way than to trust and obey. 

- Dave Reid

(Updated 2021, Ron Reid)