Early in 2008 when I went into hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication, I asked the Lord, “OK, what do you want to show me?”  During the four day hospital visit, I managed to share my faith with other patients and a nurse but above all, I managed to gain some intimate time with the Lord in spite of being in a busy ward with three other patients.

In the “wee hours” one morning, the Lord told me quietly to resign my part-time job at Woolies.  I thought, “Oh sure Lord, how will I support my wife then?”  But I knew God meant it and I knew that if he asked me to do something, then He was responsible for the outcome.  I just had to look at Abraham.  Abraham gave his promised future—his dream—on an altar at the top of a mountain.  Look at Genesis 22.  When God told Abraham to take his son to a mountain to offer him for a burnt offering, Abraham obeyed without question.  The next day he and Isaac were on their way to the mountain.  Hebrews 11 tells us that he believed God would raise Isaac from the dead.

But about three weeks later, I hadn’t yet resigned.  I was wrestling with God over His command.  One afternoon, my wife and I were having a cup of tea at home.  I put the cup down and said to her, “As soon as I’ve finished this, I’m going to write out my resignation from Woolies”.  No sooner had I said the words than the phone rang.  The voice on the other end asked me to go to an interview for a part-time office job in the city council.  It was a better job for me.  No more late nights doing heavy manual work at Woolies.  I had applied for the council job months before after my wife saw it advertised in a local paper.  I nearly didn’t apply as it was near the closing date and I was busy.

Now months later, I was being asked for an interview.  Of course, I wouldn’t be writing this testimony if I didn’t get the job.  When I finally started, the boss apologised for taking so long to get me on board but, secretly, I knew the delay was my fault.  I would have had the job weeks earlier if I had obeyed immediately, just as Abraham did.

1Samuel 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

1John 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.