Obey All of God's Voice

Genesis 26:5 KJV

Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

We often speak of the Bible as containing, besides the promises: principles, precepts and instructions. Here God Himself divides His voice (at least that which is to be obeyed) into these four kinds:

·       Charge

·       Commandments

·       Statutes

·       Laws

Rather than this verse being redundant, as some commentaries suggest, we ought to see a distinction between the kinds of things we hear from God.

Charge

Strong’s Concordance defines this, among other things, as an observance or a duty. We have two observances in New Testament Christianity: baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Commandments

This is defined as an ordinance or precept. See these as instructions. They are none negotiable lessons given to us from our God.

Statutes

The definition for this word involves customs and manners. ,As Abraham's relationship with God progressed he learned new and deeper truths and applications of the things of God.

Laws

This is the Hebrew word, Torah. It could refer to the collective body of truth, which is now the Bible.

Whatever distinction we put upon each of these for words the key is that Abraham's obedience to God was more than a superficial or cursory one. He was not perfect but God’s own testimony is that he did keep all points of God's word (voice).