March 29 - Nº 88 1 Samuel 9:1 – 10:25
Kish was a wealthy man from the tribe of Benjamin. He had a son named Saul who was one of the best-looking guys in all of Israel. Not only was he handsome, but he also literally stood head and shoulders above everyone else. One day, Kish noticed that several of his donkeys were missing. So, he asked Saul to search for them with one of the servants. They searched for a long time but couldn’t find them anywhere. They were about to give up and head home when the servant remembered that a prophet lived in a nearby town. “Let’s ask him if he can tell us where the donkeys are,” he suggested. They didn’t realize that the man of God they were looking for was Samuel. The night before, God had informed Samuel that Saul would be coming that day. God also added, “He is the one I want you to anoint as king over Israel!” When Saul and his servant got to town, they saw a man walking toward them. Saul asked him, “Can you please tell me where the prophet lives?” “I am the prophet,” Samuel replied. Recognizing that this was the man God wanted him to anoint, he added, “Go ahead of me to the high place where I will make a sacrifice. When the sacrifice is over, there will be a big feast, and I want you to eat with me. Later, I will explain many things to you. By the way, the donkeys have been found. You have much bigger things to worry about now than donkeys. All of Israel will soon be following you.” Saul was shocked. “This can’t be true,” he said. I’m from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel. And my family is from one of its least important clans.” When the sacrifice had been made, Samuel brought Saul and the servant into the hall and seated them at the head of the table. He gave Saul the best piece of meat. After the meal, Saul and his servant spent the night with Samuel. The next morning, the prophet sent Saul’s servant ahead to retrieve the donkeys so that he could give Saul a private message from God. Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head. He said, “God has chosen you to rule over His people and His land.” He then informed Saul of several things that would happen over the next few days. There were special places Saul needed to go and certain people he needed to meet. He told Saul that when all these things had taken place, the power of the Holy Spirit would come on him, and he would begin to prophesy. From then on, his life would never be the same. Everything happened just as Samuel prophesied, and the day came for Samuel to anoint Saul in front of the whole nation. But when Saul’s name was finally announced, no one could find him. He was hiding in the storage shed! They brought him out and Samuel announced, “This is the man God has chosen to be your king! There is no one like him among the people.” The people were excited! They shouted, “Long live the king!” On the outside, Saul appeared to be everything they had hoped for in a king!
Have you ever felt like God wanted you to do something, but (like Saul) you were too afraid to do it? Do you realize that when God asks you to do something, He promises to be there to help you? God had a very special role for Saul in the history of Israel. But Saul was afraid. That’s because he looked at his own abilities instead of at the God Who had chosen him.
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