The Lord instructed Saul to destroy the entire nation of Amalek, including their animals. The instruction given was a total annihilation of all living things therein. When Saul and his men got to Amalek, they destroyed only what was worthless but they reserved the best of animals and spared Agag the King. 1 Samuel 15:8-9 says, "He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. [9] Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. Lord"( NLT). Saul obeyed God's instruction but his obedience was a partial one. It was an incomplete obedience. When obedience is partial, God sees it as disobedience. Countless times, we are like Saul. God may instruct us to do something but we'll do a part of it assuming we have done all there is to be done. It doesn't work that way. God is given to details and he expects us to pay attention to the details of instruction given to us. We can use giving as an example. The Holy Spirit may instruct we give a certain amount to missions but we often think the amount us too much to be given. We give half and then force ourselves to believe we have obeyed. It doesn't work that way. That may be the reason your giving has not been rewarded. The deception that comes with partial obedience is that we think we can appease or bribe God with the little we have done. That was exactly what Saul did. 1 Samuel 15:20-21 says, “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. [21] Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal" (NLT). Listen to Samuel's response: "But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. [23] Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king” (1 Sam15:22-23). If the Lord says "Go to the North", don't go to the border between North and south. Enter the north and do what is expected of you. God's expectation of you is full obedience not a partial one.