This morning when I woke up, I thought I was going to be sharing on obedience. God has such a sense of humor. But alas, it’s not, or maybe it is. I’m choosing to be obedient that I have a different topic to share, rather than what I thought it would be, and going with the change of plans – even though I feel like, once again, it’s out of my comfort zone.
This morning I read the passage of where Saul went out looking for his father’s donkeys, and came back king of Israel. I feel the need to keep reminding you that I’m not a theologian. So, please forgive me again.
In 1 Samuel 9, Saul went looking for his father’s donkeys with a servant, after days of not being able to find them, the servant suggest they go look for the man of God in the town, Samuel. The got directions, and kept going. The thing is, God had already told Samuel to expect Saul, he had even set aside choice foods for him, when they were to have dinner together. While Samuel told Saul to tell the servant to go ahead of them, he told Saul to stay ‘awhile so that I may give you a message from God’ 1 Samuel 9:27b NIV.
In the next verse, Samuel takes out his flask of oil and pours it out on Saul’s head and kissed him. After that, he gave him very detailed instructions of what was going to happen next and as he made his way home.
I forgot to mention that when Saul met Samuel, and they started talking, Saul didn’t think he was the person for the job. As far as he was concerned, he was a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and his clan was the least of all the clans, from the tribe of Benjamin. Samuel 9:21 NIV.
I’m learning that God has a way of choosing people for certain tasks. A lot of times we don’t feel qualified for what God is asking us to do, but He’s chosen to use us anyway. We just have to be willing. Catherine Marshall states ‘the only way I will keep a pliable, obedient spirit in the larger decisions is to look to Him and to obey in the smaller ones.’
What is God asking of you, that you don’t feel ready or equipped to do? He’s telling you that He will make you ready and able, but you need to trust Him. Saul wasn’t ready. Moses wasn’t ready. But God knew what they needed, once they accepted what He wanted them to do.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your mercy and your love. We thank you for giving us directions, even when we don’t feel ready or able. Please give us a pliable and obedient spirit, so that we can follow you and what you have set up ahead of us, knowing that your plans are better than any that we can come up with on our own.