1 Samuel 13: 8-13
⁸Saul waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter.
⁹So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
¹⁰Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
¹¹"What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash,
¹²I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."
¹³"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
In the Bible, there are many incidents that highlight the significance of patience. Abraham, Moses, David, and Job are some who waited patiently, while the stories of Sarah and Uzziah serve as reminders of the perils of acting impatiently.
In this passage, we see Saul's impatience and its repercussions. Samuel's delay in arriving at Gilgal led Saul to offer a burnt offering rather than waiting as instructed.
What prompted this decision?
Shifted focus*
Saul's attention shifted as he noticed his men scattering. Instead of relying on the Lord, he leaned on his own strength and authority.
Similar to Peter, we will also start sinking if we take our focus away from Jesus Christ and look at the storms and troubles that come into our lives. To avoid this, let's keep our focus on Christ and entrust Him alone.
Fear*
Saul feared the Philistines as they started assembling at Michmash. He feared that they would come down against him.
When faith wavers, anxiety and doubt take hold. By placing unwavering trust in God, fear loses its grip. Our fear should be of the Lord, leading us to obey His commands.
What happened next?
Started Blaming others*
Saul shifted blame to Samuel for his delayed arrival, indirectly holding him responsible for Saul's impatience. Impatience often blinds us to our own errors, redirecting blame toward others.
Started giving excuses*
Saul's goal was to gain the Lord's favor, but his actions were misguided. According to Samuel, that was a foolish act. We see this in the life of Sarah as well.
Let's be careful. Although our intentions may seem right in our eyes, let's make sure they align with what God wants us to do.
Faced Consequences*
Saul had to face the consequences that affected the establishment of his kingdom.
Take away:
¶ Focus on God: We should keep our focus on Christ in the midst of life's challenges.
¶ Trust over fear: Trusting in God helps us overcome fear and doubt, enabling us to obey His commands without hesitation.
¶ Take responsibility: We should take responsibility for our actions, align our intentions with God's will, and avoid making excuses.
📖 Verse for the day 📖
Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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AUTHOR : Sis Shincy Susan
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