How often do we insist and choose to go our own way even after God has repeatedly warned us about the dangers ahead?
Have you ever been in a situation where you have intentionally and willfully disobeyed God’s instructions or gone against God’s communicated direction to you?
One fine day, the elders in Israel met to discuss with Samuel. He was getting old and had appointed his eldest sons, Joel and Abijah, as Judges. However, Samuel’s sons were known to accept bribes and pervert justice, so the elders thought it was time to do something about it. When the elders met with Samuel, they had just one request, “Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” As you can imagine, Samuel was displeased with their request, as he would have known that the people were rejecting him, so he went to the Lord for guidance.
God told Samuel to do everything the elders asked for because they were rejecting God and not Samuel – “they don’t want me to be their King any longer – Israel has continually abandoned me to follow other Gods ever since I brought them out of Egypt – they are only giving you the same treatment they have given me,” the Lord said. So, God told Samuel to do what they requested and seriously warn them about how the King they were asking for will reign over them.
Samuel did not mince his words – he told the people what to expect in the future – he told them the King would draft their sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers; some of their sons would be generals and captains, while others would be forced to plow in the King’s fields and harvest his crops. He told them the King would take their daughters and force them to cook, bake, and make perfumes for him. He also mentioned that the King would take away the best of their fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his own officials. The King would also demand a tenth of their flocks, and they will be his slaves…
Samuel finished by telling them that when that day comes, they will beg for relief from this King they are demanding, but then, the Lord will not help them. But the people refused to listen to the warnings and said, “We still want a King; we want to be like other nations – our king will judge us and lead us to battle.” Samuel gave Israel several chances to change their mind with his warnings, but the people insisted. So, Samuel reported their response to the Lord, and the Lord told Samuel to give them a king. Through a series of events, God led Samuel to Saul to communicate His decision for Saul to rule over Israel.
So, Samuel called together the Tribes and Clans of Israel to communicate God’s decision on the chosen King but not before reminding them once again of the Lord’s position concerning their request: “I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!”
Then Samuel chose Saul, son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. Samuel said to them – this is the man the Lord has chosen as your King – no one in all of Israel is like him – and all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
So, Israel got a King to rule over them as they had demanded – but against God’s instruction.
How often do we insist and choose to go our own way even after God has repeatedly warned us about the dangers ahead?
Have you ever been in a situation where you have intentionally and willfully disobeyed God’s instructions or gone against God’s communicated direction to you?
Please share your thoughts.
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