Little Is Much When God Is In It

1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. – 1 Samuel 16:1-13 ESV

Evidently, Samuel was having a difficult time accepting Saul’s demise as the king of Israel. God had officially rejected Saul and communicated His plans to replace him.

“You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” – 1 Samuel 13:13-14 ESV

But years had passed since that pronouncement and Saul remained on the throne of Israel. Yet God had abandoned him and Samuel the prophet had broken off all communications with him. Saul was on his own, operating without God’s presence and the prophet’s counsel. This sad state of affairs left Samuel in a state of perpetual mourning. As an old man, Samuel must have wondered what the future held for the nation of Israel. His days were numbered but he couldn’t help but question what could have been if Saul had only obeyed the word of the Lord. This grand experiment to appoint a king over Israel had turned out poorly and the once-promising Saul had proved to be a huge disappointment.

Samuel had been the one who delivered the news to Saul regarding God’s plans to replace him but he knew nothing about God’s timing or the identity of Saul’s successor. All he could see was the failed reign of Saul and the lingering threat of war because of Israel’s ever-present enemies. Nothing had changed. Israel was no better off with a king than they had been when Samuel served as their judge. But God was ready to intervene and begin the process of transforming the 12 tribes of Israel into the mighty nation He had always planned for it to be.

Samuel was commanded to fill his flash with oil and head to the town of Bethlehem where he would find Israel’s next king among the sons of Jesse, a descendant of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:17, 22). These instructions filled the elderly prophet with fear because he knew that any attempt he made to anoint a new king would be viewed as an act of treason by Saul. From Samuel’s perspective, this journey to Bethlehem was little more than a death march. But rather than addressing Samuel’s concerns, God simply continued His instructions.

“Take a heifer with you,” the Lord replied, “and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me.” – 1 Samuel 16:2-3 NLT

God provided Samuel with a cover story for his journey, instructing him to take a heifer for use in a sacrifice. Throughout his life, Samuel had functioned as both a priest and prophet of God and it would have been natural for him to offer sacrifices to Jehovah. So, God gave His reluctant servant a way to disguise the true purpose behind his visit to Bethlehem. Samuel was to present the heifer as an offering to the Lord, inviting all the citizens of Bethlehem to join him in a meal to consume the meat of the sacrifice. This was like a peace or fellowship offering (Leviticus 7:11-21) and was intended to be an expression of gratitude to God for His blessings or deliverance. Unlike a sacrifice of propitiation for sin, the meat of the peace offering was to be eaten by the ones who offered it. In doing so, they “fellowshipped” with God.

Samuel was instructed to invite Jesse and his eight sons to this communal event, and God promised to reveal which of the sons was to be Saul’s replacement. As was required for any sacrifice, all the participants had to be purified before taking part in the ceremony; this included Jesse and his sons. However, the elders of Bethlehem were suspicious of Samuel’s presence and questioned the purpose behind his visit. After hearing what Samuel had done to King Agag, they had every right to fear this elderly but far-from-feeble prophet. This was likely the first time any of them had laid eyes on a prophet of God and Samuel’s sudden appearance frightened them.

As Samuel performed the purification process, he got a good look at each of Jesse’s sons. When he got his first glimpse of Eliab, the firstborn, he immediately assumed he was the one, saying, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him” (1 Samuel 16:6 ESV). But he was wrong. God responded to Samuel with one of the most revealing statements in the entire Bible.

“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

Saul, Israel’s first king, had been chosen based on sight. He was described as “a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9:2 ESV). But looks can be deceiving, and Samuel allowed himself to be deceived by Eliab’s outer appearance. Yet, when God announced His decision to replace Saul, He told Samuel that He had “sought out a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14 ESV).

This was not going to be another beauty contest or a search for the best-looking candidate. On this occasion, the selection process was going to be different. No more kings by consensus. God was looking for a man of good character, not great stature.

So Samuel had Jesse parade each of his sons in front of him but, one after the other, God repeatedly rejected them, forcing Samuel to announce, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one” (1 Samuel 16:8 ESV). The time came when Jesse ran out of sons and Samuel held the flask of anointing oil in his hands – unused. Samuel, a bit perplexed, asked Jesse if he had any other sons, to which the confused father replied, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:11 ESV).

There is a lot of conjecture as to why David was not invited to the festivities to begin with. The passage doesn’t indicate whether Jesse knew the purpose behind Samuel’s visit. But when Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice, David was left out in the fields to tend the flocks. He was the youngest and, therefore, the low man on the totem pole. While all his brothers were being consecrated and prepared to participate in the feast, he was left to care for the family’s livestock.

It’s interesting to note that when Jesse informed Samuel about David, he said, “he is keeping the sheep.” The Hebrew word is ra`ah and it can literally be translated as “he is shepherding the sheep.” David was faithfully caring for and protecting the flocks of his father. He was doing his job to feed, guide, and nurture those who had been placed in his care. In Psalm 78, we are given a glimpse into the shepherd’s heart of David, the one who was about to be anointed the next king of Israel.

He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheepfolds;
from following the nursing ewes he brought him
to shepherd Jacob his people,
Israel his inheritance.
With upright heart he shepherded them
and guided them with his skillful hand. – Psalm 78:70-72 ESV

God was going to choose David because of his heart, not because he was handsome. God was going to anoint this young boy as the next king of Israel, not because he was famous, but because he was faithful. Yes, he was the last in line of all the sons of Jesse, but he was far from the least in the eyes of God.

There is a song written by Kittle L. Suffield that sums up the situation with David quite nicely.

Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

David was left in the field by his father. But he was not left out of God’s plan for the future of Israel. David was an afterthought in his father’s mind, but he was worthy to be chosen by God to become the shepherd of the flock of Israel. David was unknown and insignificant, shepherding sheep in the fields of Bethlehem, but God was about to do something that would radically change the trajectory of his life – forever.

Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. – 1 Samuel 16:13 NLT

The transition of power had begun but the timing would prove interesting. God had anointed His future king but Saul remained on the throne. The replacement had been revealed and the future of Israel had been affirmed, but God had plans for David that no one could have ever imagined.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God Has No Regrets

24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” 26 And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28 And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul bowed before the Lord.

32 Then Samuel said, “Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33 And Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. – 1 Samuel 15:24-35 ESV

This chapter contains an apparent contradiction. Earlier in the chapter, verse 10 records God’s message to Samuel regarding Saul: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments” (1 Samuel 15:10 ESV). That same sentiment is expressed at the end of the chapter.

And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. – 1 Samuel 15:35 ESV

Yet, Samuel appears to contradict those two statements when he informs Saul, “…the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret” (1 Samuel 15:29 ESV). So which is it, is God capable of regret or not? The Hebrew word used in all three verses is nāḥam, and it conveys the idea of sorrow or regret but can also be used to speak of repentance or a change of mind. When used of God, it is an anthropomorphism: “an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics” (“Anthropomorphism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropomorphism. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.).

As Samuel states in verse 29, God is not a man. In other words, He is a spirit being and not human, yet we attempt to describe Him by using human terminology that describes human traits. God is an incorporeal being, without hands, feet, brain, or heart. He has no eyes, yet Proverbs states, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3 ESV). According to Proverbs 5, “the Lord sees clearly what a man does” (Proverbs 5:21 NLT).

God’s “sight” is unrestricted and not dependent upon human eyes. His “reach” is not restricted by human arms and hands. God “speaks” without the benefit of a tongue.  He “thinks” and yet has no brain. According to the Genesis account of creation, God “spoke” the universe into existence, and yet He has no vocal chords. Numbers 23:19 states that “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind,” yet God is not equipped with a human-like mind. His reasoning capacity is not limited by the size of His brain because He does not have one.

So, when Samuel records that God regretted making Saul king, he is trying to express God’s inherent sorrow over an outcome that He had ordained and foresaw. God was not admitting an error or expressing regret for His actions but displaying His sorrow for Saul’s fate. God may not have a heart, but He is far from emotionless. The psalmist writes, “The LORD cares deeply when his loved ones die” (Psalm 116:15 NLT). God is loving, caring, and compassionate. When contemplating the inevitable consequences of His decision to give the Israelites a king like all the other nations, God cared deeply about the pain and suffering that it caused. He was not sorrowful for His actions but He did “regret” that their rebellious demand for a king had to result in some painful lessons for all involved.

But God’s regret did not result in remorse or a change of mind. He had known all along how this scenario was going to turn out and it all happened according to His sovereign plan. He gave the people what they wanted and the result was just as He had predicted. But that doesn’t mean that God gloated over His decision or enjoyed watching His people suffer. At no point did God take delight in watching Saul fail or His people suffer. He took no pleasure in seeing His providential plan played out. God was not surprised by Saul’s stubborn refusal to obey His will but He was saddened by the inevitable outcome. The Lord doesn’t gloat over or relish the fall of the wicked. In fact, He says, “I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live” (Ezekiel 33:11 NLT).

But God’s sorrow was not going to produce a change of mind. As much as He hated to witness Saul’s demise and the people’s resulting pain and loss, it would not prevent Him from doing what He had planned to do all along. That is what Samuel means when he states, “the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” (1 Samuel 15:29 NLT). Samuel uses a title for God that is found nowhere else in Scripture. He refers to Jehovah as “the Glory of Israel.” The Hebrew word translated as “glory” is neṣaḥ, and it means “everlastingness.” It refers to God’s eminence and eternality; He is consistent and unchanging in all His ways. God is not fickle or controlled by circumstances. The vicissitudes of fallen humanity do not alter God’s plans or cause Him to change His mind. So, when it came to the outcome of Saul’s disobedience, the die was cast and his fate was sealed.

Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Saul finally decided to take ownership for his sin, in the hopes that God might spare him.

“Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord.” – 1 Samuel 15:24-25 NLT

But it was too little, too late. Samuel had been given no permission from God to serve as Saul’s priestly confessor or counselor, so he refused the king’s pitiful plea. In desperation, Saul reached out to prevent Samuel from leaving, tearing the prophet’s robe in the process. Samuel used this as a sign to drive home the serious nature of Saul’s predicament.

“The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you.” – 1 Samuel 15:28 NLT

Self-absorbed and obsessed with his image, Saul begged Samuel to do him one last favor. He pleaded for Samuel to accompany him in a carefully staged worship service held in the presence of the elders of Israel. Saul was all about appearances, hoping that Samuel’s presence would reassure the people of Israel that he was still the king and fully in charge. Saul was less concerned about “the Glory of Israel” than he was about his own stature among the people.

Samuel agreed and took part in Saul’s little charade, but when the service ended, he demanded that Saul bring out Agag, the king of the Amalekites. After having officiated a worship service to Jehovah, Samuel required Saul to bring out the evidence of his own disobedience. How could the king offer up praise to God when he held in his possession the proof of his unwillingness to obey God? Saul had been given strict instructions to put King Agag to death but he had chosen to let him live. Perhaps he had hoped to receive some kind of ransom from the captive king. But regardless of Saul’s motivation, Agag was living proof that Saul remained unrepentant and unremorseful. But Samuel did what Saul had refused to do; he “cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:33 NLT). The elderly prophet displayed his reverence for God by faithfully carrying out the will of God. As Saul stood back and watched, Samuel fulfilled the duty of the king by carrying out the command of the Glory of Israel.

This proved to be the final interaction between Samuel and Saul. With the death of Agag, the two men parted ways, never to meet again. The chapter ends with a sad note: “And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel” (1 Samuel 15:35 ESV). God knew that the days ahead were going to be difficult for Saul and the people of Israel. He had a plan but that plan was going to involve pain and suffering for all involved. God was not surprised by the outcome. God’s rejection of the rebellious Saul was not a knee-jerk reaction; it was all part of His pre-ordained plan. He already had Saul’s replacement picked out and the transfer of power was about to begin.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Just Desserts Can Be Difficult to Swallow

4 So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

10 The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” 13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” 14 And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” 15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.”

17 And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said,

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
    as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
    and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
    he has also rejected you from being king.” – 1 Samuel 15:4-23 ESV

God had made Himself perfectly clear. For the first time in years, Saul had received a message from the Lord through Samuel, the prophet, and his marching orders simple and direct.

“Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” – 1 Samuel 15:3 ESV

God left nothing to Saul’s discretion; he was given non-negotiable instructions concerning the fate of the Amalekites. Not only was he to defeat them, but he was to completely annihilate them. The Hebrew word is ḥāram and it carries the idea of complete destruction.

“The basic meaning is the exclusion of an object from the use or abuse of man and its irrevocable surrender to God. The word is related to an Arabic root meaning ‘to prohibit, especially to ordinary use.’ The word ‘harem,’ meaning the special quarters for Muslim wives, comes from it.

“Usually ḥāram means a ban for utter destruction, the compulsory dedication of something which impedes or resists God’s work, which is considered to be accursed before God. The idea first appears in Num 21:2–3.” – Wood, L. J. (1999). 744 חָרַם. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 324). Chicago: Moody Press.

God had “devoted” the Amalekites to destruction as punishment for their past treatment of His chosen people (Deuteronomy 25:17-19; Exodus 17:14-16). After centuries of delay, God had chosen Saul as the one to implement His divine judgment upon the Amalekites, and He left no doubt as to what the outcome should be. Saul was to spare no one and nothing.

This was a test to see whether Saul would obey the command of God. After having served 23 years as the king of Israel, Saul was given another opportunity to faithfully follow the instructions of the Lord. More than two decades earlier, he had started his reign by failing to do what God told him to do and it led to his rejection by God (1 Samuel 13:13-14). For nearly 25 years, God had allowed Saul to remain on the throne of Israel, but the time had come to see if he was a changed man. This test was not for God’s benefit because He is all-knowing and can see into the hearts of all men (1 Samuel 16:7). No, this test was meant for Saul as well as the prophet Samuel. The outcome would prove once and for all that Saul was not a man after God’s own heart and would need to be replaced.

But Saul’s response to the divine directive was quick and decisive. He mustered the troops and marched them into battle against the Amalekites. In a display of mercy, Saul warned the neighboring Kenites to evacuate the area so that they might be spared. Evidently, these two people groups lived in close proximity to one another and Saul had no desire to see the peaceful Kenites suffer God’s judgment.

Once the Kenites had evacuated the region, Saul ordered his troops to attack. With his 210,000-strong army, Saul easily defeated the much smaller Amalekite force. But what happened next reveals the whole purpose behind the test.

Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. 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. – 1 Samuel 15:7-9 NLT

Partial obedience. That was Saul’s big mistake. He chose to amend God’s instructions and do things his own way; a decision he would later regret. While Saul obeyed the Lord and slaughtered the Amalekites, he made some unsanctioned executive decisions that directly violated the will of God Almighty. Rather than kill the Amalekite king, Saul spared his life. Instead of devoting all the livestock to destruction, Saul ordered that the Israelites cull out the best of the flocks and herds and take them as plunder. The text makes it clear that their decision was motivated by greed and exhibited their blatant disobedience to God’s command.

Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. – 1 Samuel 15:9 ESV

They refused to do what God had told them to do. In a sense, they showed that they knew better than God. Their will superseded His. And this open display of disobedience was sanctioned by none other than the king himself. Saul was responsible for the actions of his people.

To make matters worse, Saul ordered the ḥāram (to devote to destruction) of “all that was despised and worthless” (1 Samuel 15:9 ESV). This slaughter was meant to be a form of offering to Jehovah, sacrificing to Him the best of all that belonged to the Amalekites. But Saul chose to offer God only that which was worthless and of no value to him. He gave God the dregs and kept the best for himself.  This action resulted in God delivering Saul’s failing test results. to Samuel.

“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” – 1 Samuel 15:11 ESV

God is not admitting that He made some sort of error. He is not surprised by the outcome or somehow sorry for having ever made Saul king. He is simply expressing His sorrow at having to watch His servant suffer for his own sin and rebellion. 

“This is the use of anthropomorphism, when God explains Himself to man in human terms, so man can have some understanding of God’s heart. God knew from the beginning Saul’s heart, ways, and destiny. God already sought for Himself a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Yet as all this unfolded, God’s heart was not emotionless. He didn’t sit in heaven with a clipboard, checking off boxes, coldly saying, ‘All according to plan.’ Saul’s disobedience hurt God, and since we can’t grasp all that happens in God’s heart, the closest that we can come is for God to express it in the human terms of saying, ‘I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king.’” – David Guzik, The Enduring Word Bible Commentary

God takes no joy in watching the failure of His children. He knew exactly what Saul was going to do but was still saddened by watching one of His children reject His love by disobeying His will. In the end, God always wants to bless His children but is obligated to punish all those who choose to disobey His commands. Disobedience always brings discipline.

God’s words also upset Samuel, who spent the night calling out to Him in anger and frustration. After a quarter-century of silently watching Saul attempt to reign over the nation of Israel, Samuel was shocked to learn that God was going to bring this failed experiment to an end. Part of the reason for Samuel’s emotional response was his lack of knowledge as to God’s future plans. He knew that God had Saul’s replacement in mind, but he had no idea who the individual was. It was as if God was starting all over again and the elderly Samuel must have felt overwhelmed by that prospect.

But the next morning, Samuel set out in search of Saul, fully intending to deliver God’s message. It must have enraged Samuel to discover that Saul had erected a monument to himself in Carmel. How could this arrogant blowhard dare to memorialize himself when he had blatantly disregarded the will of God Almighty? But Saul was clueless about God’s anger and was anxious to celebrate his recent victory over the Amalekites.

When Samuel finally caught up to Saul, he must have been shocked to hear the king brag about his successful completion of God’s instructions. In Saul’s mind, he had done exactly what he had been ordered to do. He could see nothing wrong with his slight alterations to God’s plans. When Samuel points out the presence of the Amalekite livestock, Saul begins to rationalize and justify his actions. He explains that the people were intending to use them as sacrifices to God. But Samuel isn’t buying what Saul is selling. The prophet immediately confronts the king with the news of God’s indictment against him.

“Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel. And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’ Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?” – 1 Samuel 15:17-19 NLT

Amazingly, Saul continues to try to justify his actions. But Samuel interrupts his desperate pleas of innocence with a devastating oracle from God. He informs the disobedient and unrepentant king that his reign has officially come to an end. Saul has failed God’s final test and ushered in his own demise – all as a result of his disobedience. God wasn’t impressed with Saul’s victory because it had been His doing. God wasn’t happy with Saul’s monument to his own self-importance because it was nothing more than an idol. God didn’t want sacrifices offered in violation of His will; He wanted obedience.

So, because Saul had acted wickedly and chosen to disobey the command of God, his kingship would come to an inglorious end.

“So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” – 1 Samuel 15:23 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Guilty as Charged

31 They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. 32 The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.” 34 And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Therefore Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” 44 And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. – 1 Samuel 14:31-46 ESV

Leave it to Saul to turn victory into defeat. When he finally discovered that his son had instigated an unauthorized attack at Michmash that caught the Philistines by surprise and caused them to panic, he decided to get in on the action by sending his troops into the battle. In his new role as king, he decided to flaunt his authority by requiring every soldier to swear an oath of abstinence. He forbade them from taking any sustenance until the enemy was completely defeated and while his son had believed that God would give the victory, Saul managed to make it all about him.

“Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” – 1 Samuel 14:24 NLT

His rash decision to require his men to make a needless oath to protect his vain reputation would have serious consequences. He had decided to make this battle personal and his ridiculous executive order was going to come back to haunt him.

Surprisingly, as the battle waged on, the troops obeyed the command and refrained from eating any food. But Jonathan wasn’t in the camp when the order was given, so when he became famished, he took advantage of some raw honey discovered in the forest. His fellow soldiers warned him of the king’s edict, but Jonathan responded with a blunt and less-than-flattering assessment of his father’s unwise decision.

“My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more Philistines we could have killed!” – 1 Samuel 14:29-30 NLT

But the ramifications of Saul’s order would be far worse than Jonathan thought. As the day wore on and the Israelite soldiers wore down, they became so desperate for nourishment that they ended up violating Saul’s command. Worse yet, in doing so, they broke the law of God.

They chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint. That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood. – 1 Samuel 14:31-32 NLT

Saul caused his own men to sin against God. In prohibiting them from eating until the enemy was defeated and he was avenged, Saul had created a worst-case scenario that put his men in deadly danger. Every Israelite soldier knew the law of God that prohibited the consumption of blood. For generations, they had followed the command given by God to Moses.

“…never consume the blood, for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the lifeblood with the meat. Instead, pour out the blood on the ground like water. Do not consume the blood, so that all may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what pleases the Lord.” – Deuteronomy 12:23-25 NLT

But on this occasion, Saul’s command superseded that of God. His men faithfully obeyed his edict until the battle was over and they returned to camp in the evening. Overcome by fatigue and hunger, the starving men slaughtered the livestock and greedily consumed the meat without properly draining away the blood. News of this out-of-control blood-soaked feast reached the ears of Saul.

“Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.” – 1 Samuel 14:33 NLT

Suddenly realizing the stupidity of his earlier decision, Saul attempted to make up for his mistake by ordering a large stone be set up for properly preparing the meat for human consumption.

“Find a large stone and roll it over here. Then go out among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring the cattle, sheep, and goats here to me. Kill them here, and drain the blood before you eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” – 1 Samuel 14:33-34 NLT

But rather than take responsibility for this disturbing scene, Saul blamed his men, saying, “You have dealt treacherously…” (1 Samuel 14: 33 ESV). In other words, it was all their fault. But their hunger-induced action was the direct result of Saul’s pride-induced decision to ban all food consumption. He had unwittingly caused his men to sin against God. Now, he tried to fix the problem by ordering the construction of an altar on which to offer sacrifices to Jehovah.

Throughout the night, the men slaughtered animals, offered sacrifices, and satiated their hunger. But no one rested. Instead, Saul ordered the men to pick up arms and return to the field of battle, demanding the complete annihilation of the Philistine army. Their bellies bloated with meat and their eyes weary from exhaustion, the men of Israel complied with Saul’s command. But Ahijah the priest suggested that they seek the will of God before venturing back to the battlefield.

So Saul asked God, “Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But God made no reply that day. – 1 Samuel 14:37 NLT

Ahijah likely attempted to use the Urim and Thummim, the sacred lots that were kept in a pouch on the high priestly ephod. But no matter how many times he cast the stone, God remained silent. Saul sought to know God’s will but his pleas fell on deaf ears. It’s not that God didn’t hear Saul’s questions, but that He had already rejected Saul as king.

“You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” – 1 Samuel 13:13-14 NLT

God’s silence was Saul’s fault but, unwilling to admit his own culpability in the matter, Saul sought a scapegoat. He declared that God’s unwillingness to respond was someone else’s fault and vowed to find out who was responsible. This led him to make yet another unwise and uncalled-for command.

“I vow by the name of the Lord who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!” – 1 Samuel 14:39 NLT

Saul’s men were appalled by this decision because they knew that Jonathan was the one who had unknowingly violated the original ban. The king was issuing a death warrant that called for his own son’s execution. 

What happens next would almost be humorous if not for the seriousness of the consequences. Saul demanded that the people gather while Ahijah used the Urim and Thummim once again to seek an answer from the Lord. Saul was convinced that God’s failure to answer his original question was the result of sin in the camp and he was determined to discover the guilty party. So, as he and Jonathan observed the proceedings, Ahijah cast the lots and, this time, God answered.

Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent. – 1 Samuel 14:41 NLT

This was not the outcome Saul was expecting. But it was reminiscent of the time when God had used the Urim and Thummim to expose Saul as His candidate to be king (1 Samuel 10:20-24). This time, the sacred lots revealed a radically different verdict: Saul and his son were both guilty before God. But sadly, Jonathan’s guilt was the direct result of his father’s rash and unnecessary prohibition against food consumption. That ill-fated decision had been Saul’s will, not God’s. Now his son would suffer the consequences.

Almost in a state of panic, Saul demanded that the lots be cast again to determine whether he or his son was to blame. Ahijah consulted the Urim and Thummin one more time and the answer they gave must have stunned Saul. “Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one” (1 Samuel 14:42 NLT). This unexpected verdict left Saul in a conundrum. What was he to do now? He had made a public vow to execute the guilty party – even if it was his own son. With his son’s guilt exposed for all to see, would Saul keep his vow? 

Still reeling from what had just happened, Saul demanded an explanation from Jonathan. What could his son have done to deserve death? What vile sin had he committed that led God to go silent? The answer Jonathan gave must have hit Saul like a hammer.

“I tasted a little honey,” Jonathan admitted. “It was only a little bit on the end of my stick. Does that deserve death?” – 1 Samuel 14:43 NLT

What Saul probably wanted to say was, “No, that is not a crime worthy of death.” But because God had revealed Jonathan as the guilty party, he knew he was obligated to keep his vow. He had promised to execute whoever God deemed as the sinner.

While the text provides no evidence of the inner turmoil that must have raged through Saul’s mind, it’s difficult to believe that he didn’t try to think of a way to get around his earlier vow. Because this entire exchange took place in a public setting, Saul was obligated to keep his word. Stunned and saddened, Saul announced, “Yes, Jonathan,” Saul said, “…you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this” (1 Samuel 14:44 NLT). Unbelievably, Saul makes yet another rash vow, challenging God to kill him if he fails to follow through with his son's death.

But the people quickly intervened, persuading Saul to spare the life of Jonathan. And, just like that, Saul ignored his vow to God and allowed his son to live. Ultimately, Saul was the real guilty party. His sin had caused God’s silence. His rash vow had led to Jonathan’s unwitting sin. His decision to hide in a cave at Gibeah had allowed the Philistines to ravage Israel at will. Had it not been for the faith of Jonathan, the Philistines would have continued to wreak havoc throughout the land of Israel. But God had rewarded Jonathan’s faith with victory.

Yet, rather than finish the job that Jonathan had started, Saul called off his troops and allowed the Philistines to live and fight another day – another decision that would come back to haunt him.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Israel’s Glory is Gone

16 And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people who were present with them stayed in Geba of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual; 18 another company turned toward Beth-horon; and another company turned toward the border that looks down on the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.” 20 But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle, 21 and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. 22 So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash. 

1 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men, 3 including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. – 1 Samuel 13:16-14:3 ESV

Samuel had vacated the premises but the Philistines weren’t going anywhere. Their superior forces set up a base of operation in a place called Michmash, a Benjamite city located nine miles northeast of Jerusalem. From this central location, they sent out raiding parties to harass the poorly equipped Israelite army. While the Israelites had spent decades under Joshua’s leadership fighting the inhabitants of Canaan to gain possession of the land, they never really developed a standing, permanent army. Each tribe remained independent of the others and would send their troops only when the circumstances required it. During the period of the judges, the Israelite tribes became increasingly more isolated from one another and the Philistines controlled the iron trade within the region. This monopoly on iron prevented the Israelites from producing weapons that would allow them to compete with the Philistines. The more powerful Philistines even banned the blacksmith trade within the borders of Israel, forcing the Israelites to rely on Philistine tradesmen to sharpen their farm implements.

The whole point behind this historical aside in the narrative was to emphasize the desperate situation in which Saul and the Israelites found themselves. Things were going from bad to worse. Samuel was gone, a large portion of the Israelite army had deserted, and Saul was left to deal with the much larger and far superior forces of the Philistine army. The parenthetical statement regarding blacksmiths was meant to drive home the insurmountable odds facing Saul and the disobedient nation of Israel.

So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan. – 1 Samuel 13:20 NLT

To put it bluntly, the Israelites were outmanned and outgunned. They were facing the battle-tested Philistines with little more than picks, axes, and sickles to defend themselves, while the Philistines had iron weapons, body armor, and chariots at their disposal. Things did not look good for the people of Israel, and their new king was nowhere to be found because Saul had left camp and taken refuge in a cave somewhere near Gibeah (1 Samuel 14:2). 

But in Saul’s absence, his son Jonathan became frustrated by the lack of action on the part of the Israelites. Their presence near Michmash was doing little to stop the daily raids of the Philistines. The impotence and inaction of the Israelite army emboldened the enemy, causing them to increase their forays into Israelite territory where the helpless occupants of the targeted villages and towns became increasingly more frustrated and demoralized. 

Desperate to do something about the situation, Jonathan convinced his armor-bearer to join him on a covert mission to infiltrate the enemy camp. The son of the new king refused to run this plan by his father because he knew it would never get approval. After all, it was little more than a suicide mission.

While Jonathan and his aide-de-camp prepared to sneak behind enemy lines, Saul was safely ensconced in Gibeah, surrounded by his 600-man personal garrison and accompanied by Ahijah the priest. The news that Saul included a priest of God in his contingent is tempered by the fact that this man was a descendant of Eli, the high priest whom God had rejected and whose line He had promised to eliminate. Because of the wickedness of Eli’s sons and his failure to deal with their abuse of their priestly positions, the line of Eli was cursed by God.

”I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me. The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age. You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. But no members of your family will ever live out their days. The few not cut off from serving at my altar will survive, but only so their eyes can go blind and their hearts break, and their children will die a violent death. And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!” – 1 Samuel 2:30-34 NLT

The text painstakingly chronicles Ahijah’s family tree, emphasizing his association with the cursed line of Eli.

Ahijah was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord who had served at Shiloh. – 1 Samuel 14:2 NLT

The disobedient Saul had chosen to seek the aid of the great-grandson of the disgraced high priest, Eli. Whether he realized it or not, Saul had picked the wrong player for his team. His choice of Ahijah was going to backfire because this man had been rejected by God and was no longer qualified to serve as a priest. He may have been wearing the ephod and the sacred garments of the high priest but he no longer bore God’s seal of approval. The text makes this clear by the mention of his uncle’s name: Ichabod.

The mention of Ichabod’s name is intentional and designed to drive home the desperate nature of Saul’s predicament. Chapter 4 contains the sad fate of Hophni and Phinehas, the two wicked sons of Eli. They were killed in the very same battle in which the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines. At the same time, Phinehas’ wife died while giving birth to his son.

She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them.

She named the child Ichabod (which means “Where is the glory?”), for she said, “Israel’s glory is gone.” – 1 Samuel 4:20-21 NLT

The mention of Ichabod in the opening lines of chapter 14 is meant to stress that the glory of God had departed Saul and his camp. The king may have enjoyed the company of a priest dressed in his priestly robes, but he was missing the presence of God. Ahijah was going to be of no use when it came to seeking God’s favor or atoning for sin. He could offer up prayers and present the appropriate sacrifices but his efforts would be futile and fruitless. Ahijah was an unworthy replacement for Samuel and his presence in Saul’s camp only served to emphasize the dire nature of the circumstances.

Meanwhile, as Saul and his discredited priest hid out in Gibeah, Jonathan and his servant made their way toward the enemy camp. As his father sat in a cave far from the enemy lines, Jonathan made the decision to risk capture and death rather than allow further inaction to lead to additional humiliation at the hands of the enemy. What happens next will serve to differentiate the son from his father and set the stage for God’s plan for Saul’s future replacement.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Beginning of the End

1 Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. 3 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

5 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7 and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 

8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 15 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. – 1 Samuel 13:1-15 ESV

The opening verse of this chapter is a bit problematic it makes it difficult to reconcile the timing of the rest of the events that follow. The NET Bible translates this verse as follows: “Saul was [thirty] years old when he began to reign; he ruled over Israel for [forty] years” (1 Samuel 13:1 NET). The reason for this discrepancy is that in the extant copies of the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible, this verse was missing some vital information. In his Study Notes of 1 Samuel, Thomas L. Constable illustrates the gap in the text this way: “Saul was______ years old when he began to reign, and he reigned_____ two years over Israel.”

There are no other verses in the Hebrew Bible that provide the age at which Saul began his reign, but the Book of Acts tells how long he remained the king of Israel.

Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. – Acts 13:21 ESV

The translators of the English Standard Version chose to amend verse one to read: Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel…. But this rendering of the text poses serious problems with the rest of the story. It leads the reader to believe that two years transpired before the events recorded in the chapter took place. But this translation of the text would not comport with the rest of the book of 1 Samuel. Chapter 10 records Samuel’s anointing of Saul and details the next-step directive given to Israel’s future king.

“…go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.” – 1 Samuel 10:8 ESV

This is where the story in chapter 13 picks up. That is why the opening verse should be translated as follows: “Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years” (1 Samuel 13:1 NLT). This rendering uses the 40-year length of Saul’s reign, as described in Acts 13:21, to help fill in the numbers missing in the Masoretic Text. This turns verse 1 into a summary statement of Saul’s reign, which will be detailed in the following chapters. There is still much debate as to the exact age at which Saul began his reign, but the general consensus is that verse 1 was originally intended as a preface designed to set up the story of Saul’s reign and eventual replacement by David.

After having received his anointing and instructions from Samuel, Saul assembled an army to deal with the constant threat posed by the Philistines. The relatively small size of Saul’s force might indicate that his initial plan was to eradicate the Philistines from around Gibeah, his hometown and capital. Saul concentrated most of his forces around Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. About this time, Saul’s son Jonathan “attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba” (1 Samuel 13:3 NLT). This verse poses another problem because for Jonathan to lead troops into battle, he would have needed to be at least 20 years old, the mandatory age for enlistment in the Israelite army. If Saul was 30 years old when he began his reign, he could not have had a 20-year-old son. This has led many scholars to place Saul’s age at the beginning of his reign at 40. This would allow him enough time to have a son old enough for military service.

Together, Saul and his son begin to make an immediate impact on the Philistine problem. News of Jonathan’s victory spread throughout Israel and Philistia, causing great joy among the Israelites and anger among the Philistines. The mighty Philistines were not used to losing to the lowly Israelites, so Jonathan’s unexpected victory stirred them to respond in force.

The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! – 1 Samuel 13:5 NLT

Faced with the prospect of going toe-to-toe with such a massive military force, Saul issued a call to arms to the entire Israelite army, commanding them to gather for battle at Gilgal. But the size of the Philistine army left some Israelite soldiers less than optimistic about their odds for success, and they chose to go AWOL instead.

The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns. Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. – 1 Samuel 13:6-7 NLT

Saul was about to face the first great test as the king of Israel. Jonathan had struck the hornet’s nest and things were about to get ugly. At Gilgal, Saul found himself surrounded by a greatly reduced force that was having second thoughts about their prospects of victory over the Philistines. These men, who had helplessly watched as their comrades deserted them, could see the size of the Philistine army and do the math. They knew their chances of victory were slim to none. And Saul was beginning to panic as he awaited the arrival of Samuel.

Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. – 1 Samuel 13:8 NLT

Samuel had promised to show up and tell Saul what he was to do. But the prophet was nowhere to be found. This led Saul to take matters into his own hands, a decision that would come back to haunt him.

Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. – 1 Samuel 13:8-9 NLT

This was in direct violation of Samuel’s orders. The prophet had clearly told Saul, “I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings” (1 Samuel 10:8 ESV). While Saul had replaced Samuel as Israel’s appointed leader, the elderly prophet was still God’s spokesman and functioned much like a priest. It was his responsibility to offer sacrifices to God and to speak on behalf of God. But Saul grew impatient and made a fateful decision that violated the will of God and virtually ended his reign before it had begun.

Just as Saul was wrapping up his ill-timed and unsanctioned sacrifice, Samuel showed up, and he was properly incensed by what he discovered. He demanded an explanation and, like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar, Saul began to dissemble and deflect blame.

“I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.” – 1 Samuel 13:11-12 NLT

In essence, Saul blamed Samuel, declaring that the prophet’s late arrival had forced him to take matters into his own hands. How could Samuel expect Saul to go into battle without a word from the Lord? But Samuel wasn’t buying what Saul was selling. He immediately hammered the hapless Saul for his foolish actions and pronounced a devastating punishment that must have left the new king dumbfounded and confused.

“You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” – 1 Samuel 13:13-14 NLT

After dropping that bombshell, Samuel departed, leaving Saul alone and with no word from the Lord. He had offered the sacrifices but received no instructions. Rather than do things God’s way, Saul had chosen to operate open-loop and skip the divine protocols. In doing so, he forfeited his relationship with Samuel and lost the backing of God Almighty. His reign was not officially over but, in God’s eyes, it was as good as done. Saul’s abandonment by Samuel was symbolic of his loss of God’s favor. He was still king but would spend the remaining years of his reign operating without the favor and power of God. In a sense, he had become exactly what the people of Israel had wanted: A king who was just like those of every other nation. From this point forward, Saul would be just an ordinary man attempting to lead an ungodly people without the benefit of God’s power or presence.

And when Saul returned to Gibeah, he learned that his abandonment was far worse than he imagined. Not only had he lost Samuel’s presence and access to God’s power, but he had lost the majority of his troops.

When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left! – 1 Samuel 13:15 NLT

In more ways than one, Saul was alone. His disobedience had proven costly and he would spend the rest of his life paying the price.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Rejection Notice

1 And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. 3 Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.” 4 They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.” 5 And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”

6 And Samuel said to the people, “The Lord is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers. 8 When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your fathers cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. 9 But they forgot the Lord their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. 10 And they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.’ 11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Barak and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety. 12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king. 13 And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you. – 1 Samuel 12:1-13 ESV

Samuel had never gotten over his anger at the people’s rejection of him as their judge. While he had faithfully followed God’s directions and anointed Saul as their king, he was still miffed at having been kicked to the curb and discarded like an old, worn-out coat. The Israelites had even rejected his plan to have his two sons succeed him as judge. All in all, Samuel was not a happy camper and he was determined to share his frustration with the ungrateful people of Israel.

With Saul’s resounding defeat of the Ammonites, Samuel knew his days were numbered. Not only was he advanced in years and nearing death, but his influence over the Israelites had just been greatly diminished by Saul’s success. Now that the Israelites had a king, they would have little need for the services of an elderly judge who was the last living vestige of a dying breed and a former era. So, he took this opportunity to state his peace with the people of Israel.

You can sense Samuel’s personal animus at having been passed over by the Israelites. He had been a good and faithful judge for a very long time but when the people demanded a king instead, he complied. Yet, he fails to disclose his initial reaction to their request.

…Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you.” – 1 Samuel 8:6-7 NLT

It’s interesting to note that Samuel makes it sound as if he had complied with their demand.

“Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you.” – 1 Samuel 12:1 ESV

But in actuality, he had been obeying the command of God.

“Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you…” – 1 Samuel 8:7 ESV

“Now then, obey their voice…” – 1 Samuel 8:9 ESV

Everything Samuel did had been God’s will but he makes it sound as if it had all been his idea. It’s almost as if he’s trying to take some credit for the successful outcome of Saul’s installment as king. In fact, he flatly states, “I…have made a king over you” (1 Samuel 12:1 ESV). This statement oozes with pride and bears a hint of lingering resentment. Samuel is seeking a bit of recognition and gratitude from those who have rejected him. With Saul having successfully defeated the Ammonites, Samuel knows he will soon be a distant memory in the minds of the people. His exploits as a judge will soon be forgotten, so he wants to ensure that he goes down in the history books as the one who gave Israel their first king.

Next, Samuel plays the sympathy card, reminding the people of his old age and long years of service.

“I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day…” – 1 Samuel 12:2 ESV

Then, in a rather bizarre display of self-aggrandizement, Samuel attempts to tout his own personal integrity.

“Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.” – 1 Samuel 12:3 ESV

He seems to be demanding an explanation for why they rejected him as their judge. But his words are nothing more than a thinly veiled claim of innocence and a stinging indictment of their poor treatment of him. Samuel was playing the victim card and he got the response for which he was looking. The people validated his claim of innocence. 

“You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.” – 1 Samuel 12:4 ESV

But dissatisfied with their response, Samuel makes them swear an oath vindicating his faithful tenure as their judge. He wanted them to admit that he had done nothing to deserve their treatment of him and, once again, he got what he was looking for.

And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.” – 1 Samuel 12:5 ESV

It seems as if Samuel wanted credit for giving them a king, but if this whole experiment were to go south, he wanted to be exonerated from any blame. He was washing his hands from any responsibility if things didn’t turn out as expected. 

After belaboring his own significance, Samuel finally directs the people’s attention back to God. He knew the real source of their problem was spiritual infidelity and they came by it honestly. They were merely the byproduct of their unfaithful ancestors, who had also turned their back on God. At this point in his “farewell speech,” Samuel gives his audience a brief history lesson.

“When the Israelites were in Egypt and cried out to the Lord, he sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from Egypt and to bring them into this land. But the people soon forgot about the Lord their God, so he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of Hazor’s army, and also to the Philistines and to the king of Moab, who fought against them.” – 1 Samuel 12:8-9 NLT

In a very truncated version of the Exodus story, Samuel recounts the Israelite’s rescue from captivity in Egypt, their journey to the promised land, its ultimate conquest, and their subsequent disobedience and discipline by God. He collapses centuries of history to fast-forward to the recent past. Samuel’s goal was to remind the people of Israel about the period of the judges and how he came to power in the first place.

When their ancestors forgot Yahweh and worshiped the false gods of Canaan, He punished them. But when they repented and called out to Him for help, God raised up a judge to deliver them.

“Then they cried to the Lord again and confessed, ‘We have sinned by turning away from the Lord and worshiping the images of Baal and Ashtoreth. But we will worship you and you alone if you will rescue us from our enemies.’ Then the Lord sent Gideon, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel to save you, and you lived in safety.” – 1 Samuel 12:10-11 NLT

Notice that Samuel includes his name in the list of God-appointed judges. This not-so-subtle reminder was meant to remind the Israelites that he was a member of a well-respected league of extraordinary men and women. In fact, he was the last living judge of Israel.

But when the current people of Israel found themselves confronted by Nahash and the Ammonites, they didn’t call on God, confessing their sins and asking for deliverance. Instead, they demanded a king and completely jettisoned the idea of Samuel serving as their deliverer. But Samuel makes it clear that, in making this fateful decision, they had actually rejected God. For centuries, God had successfully delivered His people from their enemies. Yet, when the Ammonites showed up at Jabesh-gilead, the Israelites suddenly decided they needed a king, not Yahweh. They wanted a human king, not a divine one. And Samuel reminds them that got exactly what they asked for.

“All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him, and the Lord has granted your request.” – 1 Samuel 12:13 NLT

For better or worse, Saul was their king and, in essence, Samuel was about to tell them, “You made your bed, now sleep in it.” They may have rejected God as their king but God had not abdicated His throne or given up His right to rule and reign over His people. They were still obligated to obey and worship Him. They had gotten their wish but that had done nothing to alter God’s will for them. He was still their God and they remained His chosen people, and that privileged relationship came with non-negotiable obligations.  

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

An Inauspicious Beginning

17 Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. 18 And he said to the people of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ 19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.”

20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” 23 Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

25 Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. 26 Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace. – 1 Samuel 10:17-27 ESV

While Saul remained secluded with his family, Samuel sent out an order commanding the entire nation of Israel to gather at Mizpah, where he had inaugurated his ministry as the judge of Israel (1 Samuel 7:3-6). The Israelites had just lost a demoralizing series of battles against the Philistines and had seen their beloved ark captured by the enemy. God has graciously and miraculously returned the ark to Israel, and Samuel used that occasion to call the people to repentance, demanding they give up their love affair with foreign gods and return to Yahweh.

“If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone.” – 1 Samuel 7:3 NLT

Now, years later, the elderly Samuel called for another holy convocation at Mizpah so that he might address the people. God had a major announcement to make and Samuel would serve as His mediator and mouthpiece. This gathering likely consisted of adult males and not women and children. It could have been restricted to the key leaders of the tribes and clans of Israel. But whoever stood before Samuel that day at Mizpah heard a stern opening address.

“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: 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!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.” – 1 Samuel 10:18-19 NLT

God spoke and He was not happy. Their demand for Samuel to give them a king had been a not-so-subtle rejection of God’s leadership, and He was not pleased. Whether they realized it or not, they had shown disdain and disregard for the One who had delivered them from their captivity in Egypt and delivered them to the land of Canaan. He had provided them with a fruitful land as their inheritance and had orchestrated their victories over the land’s inhabitants. God had led, fed, and fought for them. For generations, He had graciously provided for all their needs. But they had repeatedly responded with unfaithfulness and forgetfulness.

The Israelites had grown tired of their roller-coaster existence in Canaan, where their daily existence was marked by the constant threat of enemies and a steady stream of judges whose job it was to rescue them out of their most recent predicament. From the people’s perspective, the system was flawed and in need of correction. God’s way was not working. So, they demanded a king and now God was about to fulfill their wish.

This entire scene is meant to convey God’s sovereignty and providence. While Samuel served as God’s proxy and spokesman, he was not the one calling the shots. God made His presence known and wanted the people to understand that He did not take their request lightly. The selection process would be divinely orchestrated and controlled by God. At this point, only a few individuals knew of Saul’s anointing. That inner circle was limited to Samuel, Saul, his servant, and his uncle. No one else in Israel had any idea that God had already handpicked their future king.

So, to demonstrate His sovereignty over the selection process, God ordered the use of lots to reveal His preselected choice. Little is known about the practice of casting lots, but it was used throughout the history of Israel. In a sense, casting lots was like rolling dice, but God repeatedly used this strange process to reveal His will in a matter. In fact, lots had been used to determine the tribal land allotments in Canaan.

In this case, God would use lots to reveal and confirm His selection of Saul. When the process was complete, there would be no doubt that Saul had been chosen by God and not Samuel. If the people proved unhappy with their new king, they would have to take their complaint to God.

We’re not told how the lots were utilized but as the selection process unfolded, the field was slowly narrowed down. First, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen from among the 12 tribes of Israel. Then, from among all the clans of Benjamin, the family of the Matrites was selected.

…finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. – 1 Samuel 10:21 NLT

But when Saul’s name was revealed, he was nowhere to be found. This led the people to wonder whether the lots had been wrong. So, they asked for a recast.

“Is there a man still to come?” – 1 Samuel 10:22 ESV

They seemed to be treating God’s use of lots as if it was some kind of raffle that required the ticket holder to be present to win. In their minds, if Saul was a no-show, it was time to pick another ticket. But God revealed that the “winner” wasn’t missing, he was simply hiding.

“Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” – 1 Samuel 10:22 ESV

No explanation is given for Saul’s absence or his decision to play hide-and-seek. Was this an act of humility or fear? Was Saul merely exhibiting the characteristics of an introvert or revealing his reluctance to take on this sobering responsibility? It is impossible to know what motivated Saul’s actions, but while he could hide, he couldn’t escape God’s call on his life. The story of Jonah reveals another occasion when God’s chosen servant decided to hide from God’s call. Ordered by God to go to Nineveh, Jonah boarded a ship to Tarshish instead. But Jonah couldn’t escape God’s grasp or avoid God’s call. Neither could Saul.

The reluctant Saul was removed from his hiding place and before the people. This must have been a terrifying moment for this young man, and when he heard the words of Samuel, his heart must have skipped a beat.

“This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!” – 1 Samuel 10:24 NLT

This rousing endorsement should not be taken as a statement of Saul’s stellar integrity or spiritual superiority. The text seems to emphasize his physical height over any spiritual stature he may have had. Evidently, Saul was a giant of a man who stood, “taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward” (1 Samuel 10:23 ESV). He was larger than life and had all the physical attributes of a leader. He looked like a king. Not only that, he had been hand-selected by God, so there was no one else in Israel who could compare with him. He was God’s choice.

And the people eagerly confirmed God’s choice by shouting, “Long live the king!” (1 Samuel 10:24 ESV). They were ready for a change and this tall, good-looking young man seemed to fit the bill. So, they expressed their enthusiastic approval of the unproven Saul to be their king.

But God had Samuel remind the people what He had stated earlier.

“The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army,[a] some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.” – 1 Samuel 8:11-17 NLT

These were some of “the rights and duties of the kingship” (1 Samuel 10:25 ESV) that Samuel recorded in a scroll. When the people heard these warnings the first time, they gave their heartfelt approval. Despite the negative nature of these “rights and duties,” they were onboard. But what they failed to realize was that God was giving them a king of their own choosing. While Saul had been chosen by God, He was not really God’s choice.

“. . . it remains very clear that God did not choose this king for Himself, but rather for the people. In other words, though God actually appointed Saul, Saul did not in the final analysis represent God’s choice, but the people’s choice.” – G. Coleman Luck, “The First Glimpse of the First King of Israel,” Bibliotheca Sacra 123:489 (January-March 1966):51.

They had demanded a king like all the other nations, and God had obliged. Saul would prove to be a man after their own heart. But, as the story unfolds, we will see that God was ultimately interested in choosing a man who reflect His heart.

As Saul walked away that day, he must have been filled with a mixture of emotions. His life had been radically and inalterably changed. His former life was in the rear-view mirror and what tomorrow held was little more than a mystery. But the closing verses of the chapter foreshadow a less-than-ideal future for Israel’s new king.

When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them. – 1 Samuel 10:26-27 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God’s Calling Confirmed

25 And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. 26 Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”

1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. 2 When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’ 3 Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. 4 And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand. 5 After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 8 Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.” – 1 Samuel 9:25-10:8 ESV

At this point in the story, Saul still seems completely unaware of what is happening. His search for the missing donkeys has taken a strange twist, complete with a religious feast where he finds himself as the guest of honor. Before he can gather his wits about him, Saul has a leg of lamb placed before him and is told by the seer, “Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests” (1 Samuel 9:24 ESV). One can only imagine the thoughts racing through this young man’s mind as he scans the hall. The room is filled with anonymous dignitaries and honored guests but Saul is left trying to figure out why he has been placed at the head of the table like some kind of celebrity.

There is no record of any further conversations between Samuel and his young guest as the feast continued, but it must have lasted well into the night. When it finally ended, Samuel escorted Saul to a house in the city and provided him a place to spend the night. The next morning, Saul received an early wake-up call from Samuel and was told it was time for him to go home. As they left the city, Samuel instructed Saul to send his servant ahead so they could talk privately.

After the servant was gone, Samuel said, “Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God.” – 1 Samuel 9:27 NLT

The time had come for Saul to learn his fate, and what happened next would change his life forever. As he stood anxiously waiting to hear what Samuel had to say, he must have been shocked as the elderly judge took out a flask of oil and emptied its contents on his head. As the oil flowed down Saul’s face, Samuel kissed him and whispered in his ear, saying,  “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession” (1 Samuel 10:1 NLT).

It is so easy to read this story and miss the weight of what is happening. This young man is having his entire life turned upside down in a bizarre ordination ceremony conducted in the middle of the street by a strange, elderly prophet. Saul’s mind must have reeled as he considered the epic truth bomb that Samuel dropped. But throughout the brief and bewildering encounter, Saul remained speechless; he was at a complete loss for words.

But Samuel had much to say to Saul. With the prophet’s words still ringing in his ears, Saul received further instructions that, when followed, would validate all that happened. This entire sequence of events was the work of Yahweh, from the disappearance of the donkeys to the encounter with the prophet of God. As Saul made his way home, he would receive additional evidence that the sovereign God of the universe was behind his call and orchestrating everything taking place around him. None of this could be written off as a coincidence or good luck.

Samuel prophesied that Saul would encounter two men who would inform him that the lost donkeys had been found and his father had grown worried about his welfare. Further along on his journey, Saul would meet three shepherds leading their goats and bearing three loaves of bread and a flask of wine. As if on cue, these strangers will offer Saul two loaves of bread, which he is instructed to accept. Finally, Samuel informs Saul that when he and his servant arrive at Gibeath-elohim, they will run into “a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying” (1 Samuel 10:5 ESV).

Each of these encounters is intended to confirm the veracity of Samuel’s original message to Saul. The call of God on Saul’s life would be confirmed by the fulfillment of each of these prophecies. If they failed to happen, the words of the prophet would be invalidated. But if they took place just as Samuel said, they would serve as confirmation of God’s divine calling on Saul’s life.

The final prediction was the most important one because it involved the Holy Spirit. Saul is told that he will meet a group of prophets prophesying. This does not infer that these men will be predicting the future as Samuel has just done. Instead, they will be speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In other words, they will be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led, and Samuel informs Saul that he will join them.

“At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.” – 1 Samuel 10:6 NLT

While some believe this event will usher in an inner transformation of Saul’s heart, the ultimate outcome of his life would seem to contradict that assumption. Saul’s change will be temporary because it will last only as long as the Spirit’s power remains upon him. Each of these events is intended to teach Saul something about God. First, God is in complete control of all things and able to direct the lives of men, including the two strangers who will tell Saul about the fate of the missing donkeys. As king, Saul would need to know that God is always in control.

Secondly, God’s sovereignty allowed Him to use anyone and everything to aid His chosen leader. The three shepherds who provided Saul with bread would serve as an illustration of God’s providential power to provide for all of Saul’s future needs. Finally, Saul’s anointing by the Holy Spirit would remind him that his rule and reign would only prove successful if he relied upon the supernatural power that only God could provide.

These three events were meant to teach Saul that, from this point forward, God was in control of his life. Saul was no longer the master of his fate and the captain of his soul. He belonged to God now and his life was no longer his own.

Samuel assured Saul that each of these signs would take place just as predicted. When they did, Saul was told to “do what must be done, for God is with you” (1 Samuel 10:7 NLT). It seems that with each encounter, God would provide Saul with further instructions to follow. Saul was to remain hyper-vigilant and obedient, following God’s will to the letter. There was to be no variation or unscheduled detour from God’s prescribed directions, and the final piece of God’s divine plan would prove to be the most important. Samuel provided Saul with very clear instructions to follow. The specificity of his words and Saul’s ability to obey them will prove crucial to the rest of the story.

“Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.” – 1 Samuel 10:8 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Not What He Was Looking For

1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.

5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) 10 And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 13 As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s house?” 21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’” 24 So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”

So Saul ate with Samuel that day. – 1 Samuel 9:1-24 ESV

God had agreed to give Israel a king. Now the time had come for God to reveal the identity of the man who would rule over His chosen people. There is no indication as to how much time had passed between the peoples’ demand for a king and its actual fulfillment. Days, months, or years could have passed. Life went on as usual, with the elder Samuel continuing to perform his duties as the God-ordained judge of Israel. This man may have been rejected by the people but he would play a significant role in the selection and dedication of Israel’s first king. 

Chapter 8 ended with God’s commanding Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king” (1 Samuel 8:22 ESV). But who was Samuel to crown? He had a commission but no candidate to fulfill the position. It’s almost as if God placed the responsibility of selecting Israel’s first king on the frail shoulders of the elderly Samuel. Burdened with this ominous task and no clue as to how to fulfill it, Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city” (1 Samuel 8:22 ESV). He sent everyone home but his job had just begun.

But chapter 9 reveals that God had not left Samuel on his own. The Almighty was working behind the scenes, divinely orchestrating every minute detail of the story. While Samuel and the Israelites were going about their daily business, God was busy setting the stage for the “great reveal.” The truth is, most Israelites, including Samuel, had probably forgotten all about the events of chapter 8. It was business as usual for everyone in Israel, including Samuel. As the text reveals, he had just arrived in the city of Zuph, where he was preparing “to take part in a public sacrifice up at the place of worship” (1 Samuel 9:12 NLT).

We know from chapter 7, that Samuel traveled extensively in his role as judge, serving as a prophet, priest, and mediator for the people.

Each year he traveled around, setting up his court first at Bethel, then at Gilgal, and then at Mizpah. He judged the people of Israel at each of these places. Then he would return to his home at Ramah, and he would hear cases there, too. And Samuel built an altar to the Lord at Ramah. – 1 Samuel 7:16-17 NLT

On this occasion, Samuel’s itinerary included a city called Zuph. Little did Samuel know that his arrival in Zuph would include a divine appointment that would change his life forever. When he woke up that morning, he idea what God had in store for him.

But there was another individual who began his day in a similar state of ignorance and unawareness of God’s sovereign, providential activity. A young man named Saul woke up to find that his father had a job for him to do. During the night, some of the family’s donkeys had gone missing and Saul’s father put him in charge of their recovery.

This good-looking young man from a wealthy and prestigious family was assigned the less-than-inviable task of searching for some lost livestock. Saul was the son of Kish, “a Benjaminite, a man of wealth” (1 Samuel 9:1 ESV). This young man had everything going for him. Not only was he from a well-to-do family, but he was tall and extremely good-looking. The text goes out of its way to stress this final point.

Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. – 1 Samuel 9:2 NLT 

But at this point in the story, Saul’s looks took a back seat to his ability to search and recover his father’s missing donkeys. Height and good looks weren’t exactly vital assets when it came to seeking lost livestock. But Saul proved to be obedient and faithfully followed his father’s instructions. Yet, little did Saul know that his travels would lead him to an encounter with the judge of Israel and a life-changing call from the God of Israel.

While God is not mentioned in the opening verses of this chapter, His presence is everywhere. Every facet of this story shouts the sovereignty of God and reveals how He operates unseen and undetected in the lives of His people. Verse 4 states that, in their quest to recover the lost donkeys, Saul and his servant “passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them” (1 Samuel 9:4 ESV).

Don’t miss the subtle glimpse of God’s sovereignty in this passage. Saul’s search was not going as he had planned, but his circuitous route was according to God’s pre-ordained and precise plan for Saul’s life. God was leading him right to where he needed to be.

It just so happened that Saul and Samuel would end up in the same town on the same day. That’s not a case of blind luck, kismet, happenstance, or fate. It is proof of God’s sovereign control over every phase of this story. God even uses Saul’s servant to carry out His divine plan and help to direct Saul to the city of Zuph.

“I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.” – 1 Samuel 9:6 NLT

When Saul chose this servant to accompany him on his journey, he had no way of knowing that this man would have that kind of knowledge. He had no reason to need that kind of information. But that servant would prove to be an invaluable resource, leading Saul to the very person God wanted him to meet. 

What stands out in this story is the seeming lack of spiritual insight both Saul and his servant display. Yes, the servant knew the whereabouts of the “man of God” but he viewed Samuel as little more than a fortune teller. Evidently, this is how most Israelites viewed men like Samuel. The text clarifies that “In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, ‘Let’s go and ask the seer,’ for prophets used to be called seers” (1 Samuel 9:9 NLT).

Saul and his servant display little in the way of reverence for Samuel’s role as judge. They simply hope to use his divining skills to ascertain the location of the missing donkeys, and they’re willing to pay for it. It’s interesting to note that the well-to-do son of the wealthy father has no money to pay the seer, so the lowly servant has to anty up the payment for Samuel’s services.

Once again, the text reveals how God is working behind the scenes. As Saul and his servant enter the town, they just happen to meet a young woman who knows the exact location of the man of God. Following her precise directions, they enter the town and immediately run into Samuel as he makes his way to the place of worship. What Saul didn’t know was that Samuel had been prepared for this “chance” encounter.

Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day, “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.” – 1 Samuel 9:15-16 NLT

Saul was looking for a seer to help him find his lost livestock but Samuel was looking for the man who would become Israel’s king – and they just happened to run into one another. This divine appointment would provide Saul with far more information than he was seeking. Not only would he discover that the donkeys had been found but that God had a plan for his life. The unwitting Saul must have been shocked to hear the seer announce, “I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes” (1 Samuel 9:20 NLT). He had no way of understanding the significance of those words. His brain must have short-circuited as he attempted to grasp what he was being told. And his first response was to question the validity of Samuel’s statement.

“But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?” – 1 Samuel 9:21 NLT

Saul was in shock. He had come looking for information about missing donkeys and was now being told that he was the hope of all Israel. His response had been described as humble but it may have been his way of saying, “You’ve got the wrong guy!” It’s unclear whether Saul understood the full import of Samuel’s words. He doesn’t seem to grasp what is being said and falsely portrays himself as an undeserving candidate for whatever Samuel has in mind.

But Samuel refuses to answer Saul’s question. Instead, he takes the shell-shocked Saul into the hall and seats him at the place of honor. In the gaze of the 30 invited guests, Saul stared in wonder as the choicest meat was placed before him. He was being treated like royalty and couldn’t comprehend the significance of it all. He had no way of knowing what God had in store for him but the coming days would prove to be a whirlwind of epic proportions. His life would never be the same again.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Learning to Trust God

1 And Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;
    my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
    because I rejoice in your salvation.

2 “There is none holy like the Lord:
    for there is none besides you;
    there is no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
    let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
    and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
    but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
    but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
    but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
    he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
    he brings low and he exalts.
8 He raises up the poor from the dust;
    he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
    and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
    and on them he has set the world.

9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
    but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
    for not by might shall a man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
    against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
    he will give strength to his king
    and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest. – 1 Samuel 2:1-11 ESV

Hannah had suffered from and struggled with barrenness. There must have been times when she wondered where God was as she endured this embarrassing and debilitating condition. She had to have had moments of doubt as she questioned God's care for her. But ultimately, she took her concern to God, because she knew He was the only one who could do anything about it, and, in time, she learned that God was in control. He controls everything from the barren womb to the one who reigns in the throne room. He lifts up and He brings down. He humbles and He exalts. He gives life and He takes it away.

While this view of God may make us uncomfortable and raise all kinds of ethical and theological questions, it is the key to understanding the world in which we live. Some find this view distasteful and unsatisfactory. It paints God as some kind of an evil ogre who sits in heaven wreaking havoc on mankind, indiscriminately taking life and allowing injustice to take place. Their conclusion seems to be that if God is responsible for all those who rule, then He must be held responsible for all the tyrants, dictators, and corrupt despots who bring pain and suffering to so many.

The question is whether God causes evil, and the answer is no. All that God does is just and right. He is holy and righteous. He can do no wrong. He can commit no evil. But evil exists because sin entered into the world He had made. Man rebelled against God and the result has been a steady increase in sin, to the point where all looks lost and the world seems to be spinning out of control. But despite what we see, we must remember that God is still in control; He works behind the scenes to fulfill His divine plan in ways we cannot see or comprehend. What we see with our eyes may not make sense to us. It may seem unfair and unjust but we must always remember that our God is loving, just, merciful, gracious, and sovereignly working His plan – for our good and His own glory.

This chapter begins with a second and much longer prayer of Hannah. This time, she expresses joy rather than despair. Rather than begging God to show mercy and provide her with a son, she declares her gratitude for His miraculous answer to her previous prayer. She had made a request and God responded.

One would think this was a sad day in Hannah's life. After all, she had waited so many years and suffered so much ridicule, and now that she had been blessed with a son, she had to give the most precious thing in her life to God. Because of her vow, she was required to leave her small child in the hands of others and simply walk away. While there is little doubt that Hannah’s heart was full of sadness, what she expressed to God reveals no regret, remorse, or unhappiness. Instead, she states, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:1 ESV).

Having just placed her young son in Eli’s care, she rejoiced. She expressed joy in the Lord, thanking Him for what He had done. Not only had He given her a son, but God had “exalted her horn.” That unique expression doesn't mean much to us in our modern cultural context but in an agrarian culture, the horn of an animal was a symbol of strength. An animal lifting up its horn was synonymous with power and virility. Hannah's strength had been renewed by God. She was confident and content with her lot in life because God had blessed her. She had once been childless, but now she could rejoice because God had shown her favor. She was more than willing to keep her vow to God because He had saved her from her humiliation and allowed her to experience the joy of giving birth to a son.

In all of this, Hannah's main takeaway was the uniqueness of her God. He was incomparable. Her God was not distant or disinterested in her problems. He cared for her greatly and took a personal interest in her life. He had taken her barrenness and turned it into a blessing. He had replaced her humiliation with hope. Yes, she had just given her son to God, but she did so because God had given her son to her. It was the least she could do.

Hannah viewed the Giver as greater than the gift, and she could do all this because she recognized the greatness of God. She knew Him to be holy, set apart, and without peer or comparison. Her God was her rock. The Hebrew word she uses is tsuwr and it refers to a rocky cliff where one can find shelter. For Hannah, God was a refuge and protector from her enemies. No more would she have to suffer ridicule and endure the shame of her barrenness. God had done the impossible for her. So, she shouts his praises.

“There is none holy like the Lord:
    for there is none besides you;
    there is no rock like our God.” – 1 Samuel 2:2 ESV

While she had just handed over her son to Eli,the priest, Hannah didn't wallow in regret and sadness; instead, she rejoiced. She praised God and was more than willing to give back to the one who had given to her. God hadn't just given her a son, He had given her hope, joy, strength, and a new capacity to face the future confidently because God was with her. He heard her and answered her when she called. As far as Hannah was concerned, her life and her son were both in good hands.

Hannah declares that “The Lord is a God of knowledge” (1 Samuel 2:3 ESV). What an interesting statement for Hannah to make, but it came from her own experience with Him. He had seen her distress, heard her cry for help, and had answered. Now Hannah expressed praise for all He had done, but also for who He was. Her God was all-knowing. Nothing escaped His notice. He saw all that was going on. He knew of Hannah's plight. He was fully aware of her barrenness. He also knew of her ill-treatment at the hands of her husband's second wife. The God to whom Hannah prayed was wise, caring, compassionate, and just. He cared for the humble and the hurting. He came alongside the hungry and the hopeless. How did Hannah know this? She had experienced it.

She was the recipient of God's grace, mercy, and love. She had been downcast and He had lifted her up. She had been barren, but God had given her a son. She had cried out and God had answered.

This prayer is not a promise that God will right every wrong in our lifetime. It is not a guarantee that God will eliminate every problem we face. It is certainly not telling us that every barren woman who cries out to God will bear a child. But it is a sobering reminder that our God is sovereign; He knows all. He is fully aware of all that is going on in our lives.

If we are facing injustice or ill-treatment, God knows. If we are suffering from hunger or facing unemployment, God knows. If our spouse treats us with contempt, God knows. If our child is living in open rebellion against us and God, He knows. And while God's answer may not come in the same way as it did for Hannah, He will answer us when we call out to Him. We can cry out and know He hears, sees, and cares for us. He has a plan in mind for us.

Hannah had no idea what role her son, Samuel, would play in the future affairs of the nation of Israel. She was clueless as to what was going to happen as a result of her dedication of Samuel to God. But she knew that God knew. God had told the people of Israel living in exile in Babylon, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV). Things looked bleak but God was in full control of their circumstances. In the same way, Hannah had learned to trust God for the less-than-ideal circumstances of her own life. She had discovered that He was a sovereign, just, all-powerful, merciful, and loving God. He can exalt the lowly, humble the prideful, bless the barren, knock the arrogant down to size, protect the weak, defeat the strong, and right wrongs.

The key to faith is believing these truths without necessarily having seen them or experienced them. It is to pray expectantly to God, hopefully waiting on His answer because we trust in His character. It is why Hannah cried out to God in the first place.

“O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” – 1 Samuel 1:11 ESV

She was appealing to God based on what she believed about Him. He looks on the affliction of His servants. He remembers and does not forget. He knows. He sees. He answers. He is just, righteous, good, and gracious.

It is interesting to note that this prayer contains NO petition. Hannah doesn’t ask for anything; she simply praises God for who He is. It is a prayer of thanksgiving for what He has done. It is an acknowledgment of His sovereignty and a statement of His character. While Hannah was grateful for the son God had so graciously given her, she would be going home without him. He belonged to God now. And yet, her prayer is one of joy, gratitude, and worship. Because the real gift she had received was the knowledge that God loved her and cared about her.

Rather than make her son the object of her worship, she focused her attention on the one who had made his birth possible. Too often we worship the gift rather than the Giver. We end up focusing on what we hope to get from God rather than on God Himself. Our desire for blessings from God can overshadow our worship of God. When faced with a difficulty or trial, it is enough to know that God knows. We can share our requests. We can make known our desires. But our faith grows as we learn to trust Him for the outcome. He knows what is best. He will do what is right. We can trust Him.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Matter of Life or Death

18 Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. – Philippians 1:18-26 ESV

Paul opens this section of his letter by reconfirming his determination to rejoice in his circumstances. While news of his imprisonment had been disconcerting to the believers in Philippi, for Paul it had been just another God-ordained opportunity to spread the gospel. If others were attempting to take advantage of his situation by filling the role of messenger in his absence, so be it. As long as Christ was being lifted up, Paul was perfectly okay with it all, even if some of these people were motivated by envy rather than a sincere love for the lost.

Paul knew that any success he had enjoyed in his ministry had not been because of his powers of persuasion, but was due to the power of the gospel. In writing to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul reminded them of the treatment he and Silas had suffered in Philippi because of their preaching of the gospel. Not long after their arrival there, they had cast out a demon from a young slave girl. With the exorcism of the demon, she lost her ability to act as a fortune teller for her masters and they lost a much-needed source of revenue. In an act of revenge, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates of the city, where the two men were severely beaten and thrown in jail. Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers that all of this had taken place just before he arrived in their town.

You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure. You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else. – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 NLT

Despite all that had happened in Philippi, Paul and his companions boldly declared the gospel in Thessalonica, even in the face of opposition. They did so, not for money or the praise of men, but to please God as His faithful messengers. So, Paul was not concerned with the motives of others; as long as they were preaching salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, he was satisfied and could rejoice. He had never been in the ministry for what he could get out of it. For him, it was a calling, not a job, and He never saw himself as this gifted spokesman using his talents to further the Kingdom of God. He even describes himself as nothing more than a fragile clay jar containing the great treasure of the gospel message (2 Corinthians 4:7). When he wrote to the Corinthian believers, he reminded them that their conversions were due to the power of the Spirit, not his own eloquence.

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NLT

But as Paul writes to the Philippian believers from his house arrest in Rome, he shares with them the tremendous internal conflict he was having. It had nothing to do with a fear of death; he knew that was a possible outcome of his pending trial before Nero and he was perfectly at peace with that. In fact, he flatly stated, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23 ESV). He saw death as a reward, not a punishment. But he also struggled with the desire to continue his ministry among the Philippians and other congregations he had helped to start. As much as he longed to be with the Lord, he felt that his work on Christ’s behalf was far from over. That’s why he told the Philippians, “I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith” (Philippians 1:25 NLT).

One thing motivated Paul’s actions and attitudes – bringing glory to the name of Christ. If he could do that through deliverance from prison and a continuation of his ministry, so be it. But if his trial resulted in a death sentence, he saw that as a gracious deliverance by God from this sin-marred world. When all was said and done, Paul simply wanted to honor Christ in all that he did, which is why he stated, “I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die” (Philippians 1:20 NLT).

Paul was not making much of himself. He was not bragging about his superior spirituality or attempting to set himself up as some icon of righteousness and religious virtue. He was attempting to encourage the believers in Philippi to share the same perspective on life that he had. He didn’t view his arrest and imprisonment as a setback or a sign of God’s disfavor with him. He sincerely believed that it was all a part of God’s will for his life. By maintaining his focus on Christ and trusting in the will of God for his life, Paul had “learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11 NLT). So, he could say, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12 NLT).

He knew that the Philippian believers were facing their own set of difficulties. They were going to have struggles in their faith journey, just as he had, and he wanted them to stay strong, to remain committed to the cause of Christ, and to see the sovereign hand of God in all that happened in and around their lives.

Paul was convinced that he would be released and would one day see them again. But in the meantime, he wanted to encourage them to keep on keeping on. Later on in this letter, Paul writes these powerful words of testimony and encouragement.

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us… – Philippians 3:14 NLT

Then he follows up this statement of personal conviction and commitment with a call for them to follow his lead.

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. – Philippians 3:17 NLT

In the verses that follow, Paul provides the Philippians with specific details concerning the conduct of all those who claim heavenly citizenship as God’s children. Their journey of faith was not going to be easy or trouble-free, but God had equipped each of them with the indwelling Holy Spirit and placed them in the body of Christ so that they had all the resources they needed to thrive, not just survive what lay ahead.

Paul was torn between two opinions; he was ready to see his Lord and Savior face to face, but he was also anxious to continue his ministry of exhortation and evangelization around the world. He was prepared to face the ongoing struggles of doing God’s will in a fallen world but, should his life end in death, he saw that as a promotion, not a punishment. So, whether he faced a long life serving God that was marked by pain, persecution, and opposition, or if his next step was heaven, he could rejoice because he was in God’s good and gracious hands.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Even When Things Look Bad, God is Good

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. – Philippians 1:12-18 ESV

One of the truly amazing things about Paul is his attitude of selflessness and total lack of self-obsessiveness. While he held the title of apostle and had been hand-picked by Jesus Christ Himself, Paul never saw himself as better than those to whom he ministered. He knew he was a leader and took seriously the responsibilities that came with his position, but he never displayed an elitist or superior attitude toward those under his care. It was as if he lived by the counsel given to elders in the church by the apostle Peter.

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. – 1 Peter 5:2-3 NLT

But unlike the average elder, Paul had responsibility for a much larger and geographically dispersed flock. He had helped plant churches throughout Asia, Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia, and he cared deeply for every single congregation his ministry had helped to birth.

Even though he was writing this letter while under house arrest in Rome, he didn’t make it all about himself. In fact, his focus is clearly on those to whom he is writing, and he seems to be aware that they were upset over the news of his imprisonment and pending trial in Rome. Yet, rather than milk them for their sympathy and make it all about his less-than-ideal circumstances, he assured them that he was perfectly at peace with his situation. He attempted to assuage any concerns they had over his well-being by giving them a rather upbeat appraisal of his situation.

…what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. – Philippians 1:12 ESV

Basically, Paul enthusiastically announced, “It’s all good!” He wanted them to know that there was nothing for them to worry about because God was in complete control. Paul even seems to find delight in the fact that the entire Imperial Guard of the Roman Emperor was aware that his imprisonment was because of His faith in Christ. It’s important to remember that the whole reason Paul was in Rome was because he had been accused of bringing a Gentile into the restricted area of the temple, and in doing so, violating Jewish religious laws. This was a crime worthy of death, and Paul had appealed for a hearing before Caesar because he knew he would never get a fair trial in Jerusalem, where the Jewish religious leaders were out to get him. Yet the pagan Roman guards who were assigned to serve in the royal prison had come to understand that Paul was in prison for being a Christ follower.

How did they reach that assessment? The most likely answer is that Paul had been busy sharing Christ with each and every guard he met. In the book of Acts, Luke records, “When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier” (Acts 28:16 NLT). In other words, Paul was under 24-hour watch, with a litany of Roman soldiers taking turns to guard him. Paul took advantage of this captive audience to share the good news regarding Jesus Christ, and, as a result, the gospel began to spread throughout the Imperial Guard and the court of Nero.

From Paul’s perspective, as long as Jesus Christ was being lifted up, that was all that mattered. He was encouraged to hear that his imprisonment had actually emboldened the believers in Rome to step up their game and increase their influence over the pagan culture in Philippi. He joyfully related that “because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear” (Philippians 1:14 NLT).

Paul revealed that he was unconcerned and unaffected by the news that others were preaching the gospel in his absence. In fact, he was glad to hear it. Yes, he realized that some were doing it for the wrong reasons, and he describes them as being motivated by envy and rivalry. These individuals were jealous of Paul and his notoriety. They viewed him as their competition and were taking advantage of his incarceration to elevate themselves to positions of power and prominence. But, as long as the gospel was being shared, Paul was joyous, not jealous. He also knew that others were preaching the gospel with pure motives, and he rejoiced in their work as well.

…the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. – Philippians 1:18 NLT

Remember the context. Paul is under house arrest in Rome. He is under 24-hour guard and facing a trial before Nero, the Roman Emperor and a notorious enemy of the followers of “The Way,” as Christians had become to be known. It had been several years since Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem and the initial hearings before the local authorities on the trumped-up charges leveled against him. He had no idea what the future held for him but he will allude to the only two options that seemed possible – either acquittal or death.

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. – Philippians 1:20-24 NLT

And Paul was willing to accept either outcome. If God chose to release Paul, the apostle would simply return to his work of sharing the gospel just as he had been doing. But if the divine decision required Paul to die, he would do so gladly, fully believing that “to die is gain.” But Paul’s main concern seems to be for the Philippian believers; he wants them to be encouraged, not discouraged. He doesn’t want them to worry about him or to lose sleep over the possible failure of the gospel. Paul’s imprisonment was not going to bring the spread of the good news to a screeching halt because there were other messengers. He wanted the believers in Philippi to know that they had a job to do. His forced absence should motivate and mobilize them, not lead to despair and defeat.

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. – Philippians 1:27 NLT

Paul gave a similar charge to the believers living in Colossae.

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. – Colossians 1:9-10 NLT

Imprisonment was not an impediment for Paul. He saw it as just one more way to spread the gospel to those who desperately needed to hear it, including Roman guards. Paul didn’t want the Philippian believers to let his incarceration cause them consternation. As far as he was concerned, this was all part of God’s will and a necessary element of the divine plan to spread the gospel around the world. As long as Jesus Christ was being proclaimed, Paul had more than enough reason to rejoice – even while under house arrest.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Well Worth the Wait

She

1 On my bed by night
I sought him whom my soul loves;
    I sought him, but found him not.
2 I will rise now and go about the city,
    in the streets and in the squares;
I will seek him whom my soul loves.
    I sought him, but found him not.
3 The watchmen found me
    as they went about in the city.
“Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”
4 Scarcely had I passed them
    when I found him whom my soul loves.
I held him, and would not let him go
    until I had brought him into my mother’s house,
    and into the chamber of her who conceived me.
5 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
    by the gazelles or the does of the field,
that you not stir up or awaken love
    until it pleases.” – Song of Solomon 3:1-5 ESV

As stated earlier, the language of this poem sometimes makes it difficult to discern a timeline or logical sequential order in the dialogue. The opening verses of chapter three have the maiden disclosing the content of a recent dream that had turned into a nightmare. Even in her subconscious state, she can’t get the image of her lover out of her mind. But in her dream, she found herself searching everywhere for the love of her life but to no avail. She even imagined getting out of bed and wandering the streets of the city in the middle of the night. One can almost see this young maiden, still dressed in her nightgown, oil lamp in hand, searching through the darkened alleyways of her hometown in a desperate attempt to locate the one whom her soul loves.

In her dream, she had waited with eager anticipation, hoping that her lover would show up but the hours passed and he remained a no-show. It was his failure to appear that prompted her desperate nocturnal search-and-rescue mission. She looked high and low but to no avail; he was nowhere to be found. At one point, she imagined herself coming across the nightwatchmen as they made their rounds. These men, surprised to find a young maiden out by herself in the middle of the night, must have questioned her sanity and intentions, but she is more interested in whether they solve the riddle of her missing lover.

A Freudian psychologist would have a field day with this dream. They would probably assess that this woman has a pathological attachment to this young man that is producing an unhealthy co-dependence. She can’t live without him and she can’t get him out of her mind. Their diagnosis might include some form of obsessive-compulsive behavior.

But the truth is, she is simply deeply in love and can’t imagine life without this young man. She desperately wants to be married and can’t wait until the day when he pops the question, they set the date, and the long-awaited day arrives. In her dream, she compresses the timeline and takes matters into her own hands, by locating her long-lost lover, taking him by the hand, and leading him to the nearest bed, which just happens to be the one on which she was conceived. This young virgin shares the intimate details of her dream, as she describes taking her lover to bed. 

The bluntness of her language makes us a bit uncomfortable and could leave us with the impression that this young lady has a lust problem. But the content of her dream only illustrates the longing of her heart. Her relationship with Solomon has moved well beyond puppy love. These are not two adolescents experiencing their first high school crush; they are soul mates who have determined their lives have been inextricably linked together for life. They have been divinely destined to be “one flesh” (Mark 10:8). The graphic and somewhat lurid content of the dream does not suggest that this couple had been intimately and immorally involved with one another, but it does make it clear that consummating their relationship was on her mind. She wanted to experience everything that marriage had to offer, and her honest admission that she dreamed of sexual intimacy with her lover should not be taken as a moral indiscretion but as a barometer of the depth of her love. She was more than ready and willing to give herself to her lover but would hold those passions in check until their wedding night.

She even caps the recounting of her dream with its steamy conclusion by encouraging her fellow maidens to keep their physical desires under control and “not to awaken love until the time is right” (Song of Solomon 3:5 NLT). Her dream revealed her heart’s desire but she was not going to let her passions get the best of her. She couldn’t control her sub-conscious dreams but, in real life, she was committed to maintaining her purity and protecting the sanctity of the marriage bed. While she lived long before the Book of Hebrews was written, she would have agreed wholeheartedly with its warning.

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. – Hebrews 13:4 ESV

One must not forget that this is a book of poetry that chronicles the love between a man and a woman. It is meant to be intimate and uncomfortably revealing. There is a certain sense in which the reader is meant to feel a bit awkward as if they are intruding on the private conversations of two lovers. But the intent of the poem is not to embarrass or produce guilt but to showcase the amazing nature of the God-ordained love between a man and a woman.

It’s interesting to note that Solomon, long after penning the content of this book, wrote another book entitled Ecclesiastes. It was written very late in his life after he had amassed great wealth, world renown, and all the comforts that can come with life. He was wise and incredibly well-off, but he lacked any sense of joy, peace, or contentment. He had spent his entire adult life searching for significance and satisfaction but could only conclude, “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14 ESV). By this point in his life, he had accumulated all kinds of treasures, including 700 wives and 300 concubines, but nothing brought him satisfaction. Sex had long ago replaced love as a driving factor in his life. He sadly confessed, “whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure” (Ecclesiastes 2:10 ESV).

Later in this same book, Solomon seems to reminisce about the days when he found satisfaction and significance in the arms of his young maiden. Those had been simpler days when two was more than enough.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT

All the treasures of the world cannot replace or replicate the God-ordained love between a man and a woman. Marriage was God’s idea from the beginning. In the garden, God declared His intentions for the indissoluble union between a man and a woman.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” – Genesis 2:24 ESV

The young maiden dreamed of the day when she and Solomon could consummate their love and solidify their union. She knew she had to wait and do things according to God’s divine will but that did not remove the desire or diminish her longings for all that God had in store for them. The marriage was a gift from God and she couldn’t wait to open it.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

It Ain’t Much, But It’s Ours

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its borders), 3 your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin alongside Edom, and your southern border shall run from the end of the Salt Sea on the east. 4 And your border shall turn south of the ascent of Akrabbim, and cross to Zin, and its limit shall be south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it shall go on to Hazar-addar, and pass along to Azmon. 5 And the border shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and its limit shall be at the sea.

6 “For the western border, you shall have the Great Sea and its coast. This shall be your western border.

7 “This shall be your northern border: from the Great Sea you shall draw a line to Mount Hor. 8 From Mount Hor you shall draw a line to Lebo-hamath, and the limit of the border shall be at Zedad. 9 Then the border shall extend to Ziphron, and its limit shall be at Hazar-enan. This shall be your northern border.

10 “You shall draw a line for your eastern border from Hazar-enan to Shepham. 11 And the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain. And the border shall go down and reach to the shoulder of the Sea of Chinnereth on the east. 12 And the border shall go down to the Jordan, and its limit shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land as defined by its borders all around.”

13 Moses commanded the people of Israel, saying, “This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, which the Lord has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe. 14 For the tribe of the people of Reuben by fathers' houses and the tribe of the people of Gad by their fathers' houses have received their inheritance, and also the half-tribe of Manasseh. 15 The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, toward the sunrise.” – Numbers 34:1-15 ESV

As the people prepared to enter the land of promise, Moses provided them with the boundary markers that would establish their future territory. But it is important to note that the description given by Moses is distinctly different than the one God had originally given to Abram at the point of his calling. The borders that Moses outlines in this passage are far more restrictive than the ones God proposed to Abram.  At that point in time, God had designated a far larger area as the future homeland for Abram’s descendants.

“To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates…” – Genesis 15:18 ESV

The two primary boundary markers that God gave Abram were “the river of Egypt,” which most likely refers to the Nile, to “the river Euphrates,” which extends from the southern border of modern-day Turkey all the way to the Persian Gulf.

God had a much larger geographic region in mind when He made His original promise to Abram. But centuries later, by the time the descendants of Abram were ready to cross over the Jordan and occupy the land, the boundaries had shrunk significantly.

Moses provided a detailed description of the eastern, western, southern, and northern boundaries of the Israelite’s future homeland. At this point in their history, they were not ready or equipped to conquer and occupy the much larger region promised by God to Abram. Their army was far too small to attempt a conquest of the original promised land. Even though the nation was comprised of 12 tribes, there were not enough soldiers to take on the armies of “the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites” (Genesis 15:19-21 NLT).

In a sense, God was starting small, but He had every intention of sticking to His original promise if the people of Israel proved obedient and successful at accomplishing His will. The reduced boundaries were not a sign of God reneging on His promise or going back on His word. He was simply asking the people of Israel to prove their willingness to be faithful and obedient.

The borders of the land, while greatly reduced, would prove more than enough territory for the 12 tribes of Israel. In fact, as Moses points out, two and a half of the tribes would end up settling in the Transjordan, outside the new boundaries for the promised land.

“This territory is the homeland you are to divide among yourselves by sacred lot. The Lord has commanded that the land be divided among the nine and a half remaining tribes. The families of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already received their grants of land  on the east side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho toward the sunrise.” – Numbers 34:13-15 NLT

Technically, according to the original description given by God to Abram, the land occupied by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh was in the land of promise. However, their land allotments would be considered separate from the rest of the tribes. Yet, one day, God would extend Israel’s borders under the leadership of King David. When David died and his son Solomon came to power, the kingdom would expand even further. God would slowly extend the borders of Israel but because of the nation’s disobedience, He would one day spit the kingdom in half and dramatically reduce their land holdings and influence in the region.

Yet at the point at which Moses was preparing the send the people into the land for the very first time, they were faced with the formidable and seemingly insurmountable task of conquering a vast expanse of enemy-occupied territory. That is what prompted Moses to remind them that the land was as good as theirs.

“This shall be your land as defined by its borders all around.” – Numbers 34:15 ESV

It was theirs, but they would have to do their part. According to God, it was as good as theirs but it wouldn’t come without a fight. It was Jesus who declared the need for follow-through in the life of God’s people.

“…a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” – Luke 12:47-48 NLT

The Israelites had their marching orders and a detailed map of their battle zone. Now it was time to exhibit faith and fight for what was rightfully theirs. According to the Book of Deuteronomy, also written by Moses, God had divinely decreed the apportionment of land for all the peoples of the world – with His chosen people in mind.

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
    when he divided mankind,
he fixed the borders of the peoples
    according to the number of the sons of God.
But the Lord's portion is his people,
    Jacob his allotted heritage. – Deuteronomy 32:8-9 ESV

He had always intended for the land of Canaan to be the homeland of His people. This fertile land sat in the geographic center of the known world at that time and would prove to be a focal point for human history for thousands of years. The Israelites would eventually conquer and occupy this relatively small tract of land in the Middle East, but only to find their homeland become a hotbed of conflict for centuries to come. Global superpowers would fight over the right to possess it. Nations would go to war for the right to claim it as their own, and the battles still rage today. But God intended Canaan to belong to His chosen people, and at this point in the story of their history, it is theirs to be had, if only they will step out in faith and obey God’s command.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Sovereign Over All

13 And Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there.” 14 And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there.” 16 And the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.” 17 And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the Lord spoken?” 18 And Balaam took up his discourse and said,

“Rise, Balak, and hear;
    give ear to me, O son of Zippor:
19 God is not man, that he should lie,
    or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
    Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
20 Behold, I received a command to bless:
    he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
21 He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob,
    nor has he seen trouble in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them,
    and the shout of a king is among them.
22 God brings them out of Egypt
    and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
23 For there is no enchantment against Jacob,
    no divination against Israel;
now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,
    ‘What has God wrought!’
24 Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up
    and as a lion it lifts itself;
it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey
    and drunk the blood of the slain.”

25 And Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.” 26 But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord says, that I must do’?” – Numbers 23:13-26 ESV

Balak was doggedly determined in his efforts to have the Israelites cursed, and he seems to have believed that Balaam’s reluctance to do so was based on fear of their overwhelming numbers. After all, from his earlier vantage point, Balaam had stressed the size of the Israelite camp.

“I see them from the cliff tops;
    I watch them from the hills.
I see a people who live by themselves,
    set apart from other nations.
Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust?
    Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people?” – Numbers 23:9-10 NLT

So, Balak suggested a change of venue where Balaam’s view of the Israelite encampment might be somewhat restricted. Perhaps if the seer saw fewer Israelites he would be less wary of issuing a curse upon them.

“Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there.” – Numbers 23:13 NLT

Balak’s desperation was at an all-time high, and he was willing to do anything to ensure that his hired diviner carried out his assignment. He even built seven more altars and sacrificed an additional seven bulls in the hopes that this location might create the right environment for Balaam to conjure up a devastating curse against the enemy camp. But, once again, Balaam informed the king that he would have to consult Jehovah, the God of the Israelites.

“Stand here by your burnt offerings while I go over there to meet the Lord.” – Numbers 23: 15 NLT

By this point, Balaam knew that he would be a fool to do anything that angered Israel’s God. It wasn’t the size of Israel’s camp that scared Balaam; it was the power of their God. Yet, there seems to be a part of Balaam that hoped he could convince Jehovah to change His mind. Why else would he agree to offer additional sacrifices and call on Jehovah yet again? He must have harbored hopes that this time he would get a different response.

“Balaam is constantly shifting, prevaricating, equivocating, changing—he is himself the prime example of the distinction between God and man.” – Ronald B. Allen, “Numbers.” In Genesis—Numbers. Vol. 2 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary

But, unlike Balaam, God would prove to be unchanging in His covenant commitment to Israel. He was not fickle or would not be easily swayed to change His mind. So, when Balaam heard from God a second time, the message he received was aimed directly at Balak and it contained a stern lesson concerning God’s faithfulness and His commitment to bless His chosen people. There was nothing Balaam or Balak could do to alter His plans for the nation of Israel.

First, God had Balaam teach Balaam the doctrine of divine immutability.

“Rise up, Balak, and listen!
    Hear me, son of Zippor.
God is not a man, so he does not lie.
    He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
    Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” – Numbers 23:18-19 NLT

Jehovah was not anything like the false gods that Balak worshiped. He wasn’t a human on steroids, a mere man with supernatural powers and a flawed character. Israel’s God was otherworldly and without equal. He could not be bought off, coerced, or expected to do anything that would violate His divine will.

And Balaam delivered the less-than-encouraging news that there was nothing he could do to thwart God’s plans for Israel.

“God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob;
    no trouble is in store for Israel.
For the Lord their God is with them;
    he has been proclaimed their king.” – Numbers 23:20-21 NLT

This not-so-subtle point was aimed directly at Balak. God was letting this inconsequential king know that he was no match for the one true King. Balak was outclassed and out of his league. His paltry army and insignificant kingdom were up against the God of the universe and the odds were totally against him. Even Balaam was forced to admit that his parlor tricks would be of no use against the all-powerful God of Israel.

“God brought them out of Egypt;
    for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
No curse can touch Jacob;
    no magic has any power against Israel.” – Numbers 23:22-23 NLT

Whether Balaam realized it or not, he was echoing the failures of the Egyptian magicians who had tried to replicate the supernatural miracles of Moses.

So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats. Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. – Exodus 8:17-18 NLT

Magicians and magistrates are powerless against Jehovah. Human kings and kingdoms have no hope of victory against the King of kings. The psalmist pointed out the futility of attempting to wage war against the Almighty.

Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
    on Zion, my holy hill.” – Psalm 2:1-6 ESV

The King on Zion had one last bit of bad news for the king of Moab, and this final part of the message must have left Balak on the verge of depression.

“For now it will be said of Jacob,
    ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’
These people rise up like a lioness,
    like a majestic lion rousing itself.
They refuse to rest
    until they have feasted on prey,
    drinking the blood of the slaughtered!” – Numbers 23:23-24 NLT

Desperate to find a silver lining in this dark cloud of depressing news, Balak pleaded with Balaam, “if you won’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!” (Numbers 23:25 NLT). He was grasping for any semblance of hope among all the doom and gloom of Balaam’s latest message. If the seer couldn’t curse them then, by all means, the least he could do was not bless them. But, once again, the hapless sage was forced to confess his powerlessness to do anything that would conflict with God’s will.

“Didn’t I tell you that I can do only what the Lord tells me?” – Numbers 23:26 NLT

But it will become evident that Balak was just as unchanging and immutable as Jehovah. Unwilling to take no for an answer, the stubborn potentate would try one last time to convince Balaam to curse the Israelites. It was his only hope. But his stubbornness would prove to be no match for God’s covenant faithfulness.

The one enigma in this entire sequence of events is Balaam, the seer from Aram. This pagan soothsayer had been chosen by the king of Moab for his skills at divination and, more specifically, for his reputation for casting curses. Yet this very same man was used by God to deliver a series of divine pronouncements concerning the people of Israel. Some would label him a prophet of God because he spoke on behalf of God, but he was far from being a faithful follower of the Almighty. He was an equal-opportunity idolator who must have been surprised when he heard from this unknown God of the Israelites.

This man was, at best, an opportunist, who made his living by the use of divination. Dr. J. Vernon McGee describes him as “one of the bad men of the Bible, a rogue of revelation, a scoundrel of Scripture, a villain of the volume. He was a strange character. He was a heathen prophet with magical powers (Numbers 22:6). He is specifically labeled a soothsayer (Joshua 13:22). He received the rewards of “divination” (Numbers 22:7)” (Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Notes for Numbers).

Dr. McGee goes on to provide a stunning assessment of this Old Testament character based on the views of some rather significant pastors and theologians

“Every preacher of any consequence has preached on Balaam. Here are a few observations from some of these men. Bishop Butler: ‘Self-deception — Balaam persuaded himself that his sin could be brought into rules of conscience and revelation.’ Cardinal Newman: ‘The dark shadow cast over a noble course by standing always on the ladder of advancement and by the suspense of a worldly ambition never satisfied.’ Charles Spurgeon: ‘Double-minded man — he could see the right, and yet his lower nature turned him from it.’ B. H. Carroll: ‘He had but one real mind — greed and power. Religion — a stalking-horse.” – Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Notes for Numbers.

Yet, God chose to use this flawed individual to deliver His messages and accomplish His will. But this did not make Balaam a prophet of God. There were other occasions when God used the most unlikely of characters to deliver His word. Consider King Saul’s consultation with the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28). Saul had been informed by the prophet of God that the Lord had decided to replace him as king, so he knew his days were numbered. The Almighty had removed His hand of blessing from Saul. To make matters worse, Samuel, the prophet of God, had died. So, when Saul found himself facing the forces of the Philistines, he became desperate. 

Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. – 1 Samuel 28:6 ESV

This led him to seek the help of a female medium, a necromancer whom he hoped could communicate with the deceased prophet, Samuel. Amazingly, God allowed this “witch” speak to the dead prophet so he could deliver one last message to Saul.

“Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy?  The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day.” – 1 Samuel 28:16-18 ESV

This woman was used by God, but this did not make her a prophet of God. She was instrumental in delivering God’s message but she remained a pagan and an unbeliever. Like Balaam, she was nothing more than an instrument in the hands of God. Jehovah can and does use the wicked to accomplish His will. His sovereignty controls the lives of both the righteous and the wicked, and there is nothing that lies outside His divine power and providence. The Israelites were oblivious to any of the events taking place in this story. They sat in their camp completely unaware of the plans of Balak and the discussions between Balaam and Jehovah. But their God had their backs. He was in control and they had nothing to fear. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

An Unlikely Servant with An Unexpected Message

1 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” 2 Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram. 3 And Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height, 4 and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.” 5 And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.” 6 And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. 7 And Balaam took up his discourse and said,

“From Aram Balak has brought me,
    the king of Moab from the eastern mountains:
‘Come, curse Jacob for me,
    and come, denounce Israel!’
8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
    How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?
9 For from the top of the crags I see him,
    from the hills I behold him;
behold, a people dwelling alone,
    and not counting itself among the nations!
10 Who can count the dust of Jacob
    or number the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the upright,
    and let my end be like his!”

11 And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.” 12 And he answered and said, “Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?” – Numbers 23:1-12 ESV

In the following two chapters, Moses will reveal a series of oracles or divine pronouncements from Jehovah but delivered through Balaam, a pagan and profit-hungry diviner. For whatever reason, God had chosen to use this unworthy vessel to deliver a series of blessings upon His chosen people, the nation of Israel, and this unexpected turn of events would leave King Balak in a state of confusion and rage. After all, he had offered Balaam a sizeable reward to pronounce a curse upon the unwelcome Israelites who had invaded his realm.

This story, recorded by Moses for the benefit of the people of Israel, was meant to accentuate the sovereign will of God and provide encouragement to the Israelites. In it, God reveals His unparalleled power over any and all forces that might attempt to stand against His chosen people. Jehovah could utilize any and all resources to accomplish His divine will, including a pagan diviner who had hoped to score a big payday from King Balak by issuing a curse on the Israelites.

Neither Balak nor Balaam was a threat to the people of God; they were nothing more than pawns in the hand of the all-powerful, all-knowing Jehovah. No curse uttered by Balaam would have made any impact on God’s people. Yet, much to Balaam’s surprise and Balak’s chagrin, God would use this very same man to deliver a series of powerful and irreversible blessings on the descendants of Abraham.

“The most arresting element of the introductory section is in the words ‘God met with him’ (v. 4) and ‘the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth’ (v. 5). Despite the pagan and unsavory actions of this ungodly man, the Lord deigns to meet with him and to speak through him. This is utterly remarkable. We often say that God will never use an unclean vessel. This is not quite accurate. God may use whatever vessel he wishes; the issue concerns what happens to an unclean vessel when God has finished using it for his purposes.” – Ronald B. Allen, “Numbers.” In Genesis—Numbers. Vol. 2 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary

It is no coincidence that, earlier in the story, God spoke to Balaam through a donkey. When the revered soothsayer had been unable to see the angel of God standing in his path with a drawn sword, Balaam’s donkey had seen the danger and veered away. This prompted Balaam to beat the donkey severely and, much to his surprise, the donkey responded by questioning Balaam’s unjust treatment. Much to Balaam’s surprise, the donkey spoke to him. This “dumb” beast held a reasoned and well-articulated conversation with a man who was renowned for his ability to “speak” with the gods.

Now, Jehovah would use Balaam to deliver His divinely ordained words of blessings on Israel. Through the lips of this pagan oracle from Aram, God would issue a series of powerful messages concerning the fate of His chosen people. And each time Balaam opened his mouth, his hopes of making a profit diminished and Balak’s anger increased exponentially.

The whole scene has a somewhat theatrical flavor to it. One can almost sense Balaam’s desire to buy himself time. He is still harboring some hope of turning this entire affair to his advantage. He has not given up on the idea of issuing a curse and gaining his reward. So, he buys himself time by having Balak set up an elaborate altar complex.

“Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.” – Numbers 23:1 NLT

This bit of showmanship was probably intended to impress Balak. It had all the trappings of a cultic sacrificial ceremony and would have given Balak the impression that Balaam was preparing to call down the wrath of the gods upon the unsuspecting Israelites. Balaam encouraged Balak’s hopes by offering a series of blood sacrifices on the altars, signifying his attempt to call on divine aid. But nothing happened.

By this time, Balaam knew that he was dealing with the one true God and he would have to seek His will. So, he left Balak standing by his blood-soaked altars and went to the top of a nearby hill to see if Jehovah had a word for him.

“Stand here by your burnt offerings, and I will go to see if the Lord will respond to me. Then I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” – Numbers 23:3 NLT

Jehovah didn’t disappoint. Moses states that “God met Balaam” (Numbers 23:4 ESV) and the Almighty gave him a message to deliver to Balak. Balaam must have felt a sense of panic and fear as he heard the words he was to repeat to the king. This was not going to go well. But Balaam, motivated by his earlier vision of the sword-wielding angel, wisely obeyed God’s command and delivered the message he had been given.

God had Balaam begin by recounting the nature of Balak’s request.

“Balak summoned me to come from Aram;
    the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills.
‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me!
    Come and announce Israel’s doom.’” – Numbers 23:7 NLT

Then, he dropped the bombshell.

“But how can I curse those
    whom God has not cursed?
How can I condemn those
    whom the Lord has not condemned?” – Numbers 23:8 NLT

This was not what Balak wanted to hear, and it was going to get worse. What Balaam said next would leave the king in a rage. Rather than hearing a pronouncement of doom, Balak would have to listen to Balaam wax eloquent about Israel’s numbers and seemingly charmed status as a nation. They were blessed by God.

“I see them from the cliff tops;
    I watch them from the hills.
I see a people who live by themselves,
    set apart from other nations.
Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust?
    Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people?” – Numbers 23:9-10 NLT

This rather cryptic-sounding message was crystal clear to Balak. The Israelites were uniquely gifted people who enjoyed the favor of their God. Their extensive numbers were evidence that Jehovah’s hand was upon them and no one would be able to stand against them. Then Balaam made things even worse when he stated his own jealousy of their status as God’s chosen people.

“Let me die like the righteous;
    let my life end like theirs.” – Numbers 23:10 NLT

What Balaam didn’t realize was that the message God had given him to speak was intended to reflect the words of the promise God had given to Abraham centuries earlier.

“Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:1-3 NLT

God had Balaam express his own desire to be blessed rather than cursed. To stand against the people of God was a death sentence. Anyone who chose to resist them would face the judgment of God. And Balaam was learning the painful lesson that any attempt on his part to curse God’s people would end in futility and failure.

But Balak was incensed because he felt that Balaam had deceived him.

“What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. Instead, you have blessed them!” – Numbers 23:11 NLT

Yet, Balaam admitted that he was powerless to resist the sovereign will of Jehovah. He was dealing with a force that was unlike anything he had ever encountered before. And he confessed that he was unwilling to ignore the will of God.

“I will speak only the message that the Lord puts in my mouth.” – Numbers 23:12 NLT

This so-called “wise” man was increasing in wisdom with each passing minute. While it is doubtful that his original intention had been to call on the name of Jehovah, he had now discovered that the God of Israel and His chosen people were not to be trifled with. But this did not stop this Aramaen seer from continuing to court the favor of Balak and attempting to seek a different message from the God of Israel. He had witnessed the numerical strength of the Israelites and delivered God’s message of blessing, but Balaam refused to return home. He remained in Balak’s camp, providing the desperate king with the hope that a curse on Israel was still forthcoming.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Sometimes Painful Path to the Promise

14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met: 15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. 16 And when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. We will go along the King’s Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.” 18 But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.” 19 And the people of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.” 20 But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.

22 And they journeyed from Kadesh, and the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. 23 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, 24 “Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor. 26 And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” 27 Moses did as the Lord commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron had perished, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days. – Numbers 20:14-29 ESV

The Israelites were nearing their final destination and as they approached the borders of Canaan, God began to clean house. Chapter 20 opens with the death of Miriam. But the end of the chapter records the death of her brother, Aaron, the high priest of Israel. He too was disciplined by God for his part in the events at Meribah. God had accused both Aaron and Moses of treating Him disrespectfully before the people.

“Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” – Numbers 20:12 ESV

While Moses had been the one to strike the rock three times in anger, Aaron had done nothing to stop his brother from disobeying God’s command. God had clearly communicated His orders to both men.

“You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” – Numbers 20:8 NLT

But Moses and Aaron were fed up with the constant bickering and complaining of the people. Despite God’s precise instructions, they decided to use this God-ordained miracle as an opportunity to teach the people a lesson.

Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. – Numbers 20:10-11 NLT

Moses, speaking on behalf of himself and his brother, tried to leave the impression that they were the ones who would meet the Israelite's needs by providing water from the rock. In essence, they tried to rob God of glory. Then, by striking the rock rather than speaking to it, Moses violated the command of God. And God would hold both men accountable for their actions.

It was on the southern border of the land of Edom that God delivered the devastating news to Aaron and Moses.

“He will not enter the land I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you rebelled against my instructions concerning the water at Meribah.” – Numbers 20:24 NLT

In a rather sobering ceremony atop Mount Hor, Moses took the priestly robes off of Aaron and gave them to Aaron’s son, Eleazar. It appears from the text that Aaron did not get to live out the rest of his life wandering in the wilderness but died on top of the mountain while Moses and Eleazar looked on. They descended the mountain without him and the people of Israel mourned his death for 30 days.

Now Moses was alone. For nearly 40 years he had led the people of Israel with the help of his brother and sister, but their deaths had left him with the sole responsibility of getting the people of Israel to the land of Canaan. But Moses knew that he was never going to set foot in the land because of his role in the affair at Meribah. Like Aaron, he would be denied access to the land of promise and breathe his last breath in the wilderness.

But Moses continued to fulfill the duties God had given to him some four decades earlier. He mourned the loss of his brother but then set about leading the people of Israel to the border of Canaan. To do so, he had attempted to take a shortcut through the land of Edom.

Edom was located on the southernmost border of Canaan and was occupied by distant relatives of the Israelites. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, the firstborn son of Isaac and the twin brother of Jacob. When Esau had been cheated out of his birthright by Jacob, he decided to relocate his family to another part of Canaan.

Esau took his wives, his children, and his entire household, along with his livestock and cattle—all the wealth he had acquired in the land of Canaan—and moved away from his brother, Jacob. There was not enough land to support them both because of all the livestock and possessions they had acquired. So Esau (also known as Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir. – Genesis 36:6-8 NLT

Once there, Esau’s descendants prospered and developed a thriving kingdom. During the four centuries that the Israelites were in Egypt, the Edomites lived under a long line of kings (Genesis 36:31) and enjoyed a measure of peace and prosperity.

So, when Moses sent emissaries to the king of Edom seeking permission to pass through their territory, he expected a favorable response.

“This is what your relatives, the people of Israel, say: You know all the hardships we have been through. Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived there a long time, and we and our ancestors were brutally mistreated by the Egyptians. But when we cried out to the Lord, he heard us and sent an angel who brought us out of Egypt. Now we are camped at Kadesh, a town on the border of your land. Please let us travel through your land. We will be careful not to go through your fields and vineyards. We won’t even drink water from your wells. We will stay on the king’s road and never leave it until we have passed through your territory.”– Numbers 20:14-17 NLT

The kingdom of Edom covered a large swath of land and without the right of safe passage through its territory, Moses and the people of Israel would be forced to take a much longer route around it. But no matter how hard Moses pleaded, the king of Edom refused to grant access to their land; he even threatened them with war if they tried. As a further deterrent, the king of Edom “mobilized his army and marched out against them with an imposing force” (Numbers 20:20 NLT). 

Rejected by their own kin, the Israelites were forced to reverse course and take the long detour around Edom. What’s interesting to consider is that the Israelites had always been led by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. God had used these two phenomena to guide His people throughout their four-decade-long journey. So, was Moses' attempt to take a shortcut through Edom an unauthorized decision on his part? Had the cloud of God’s presence led him to this point or were his negotiations with Edom something he had come up with on his own? Was Moses trying to shorten the distance to Canaan by taking an unauthorized path through the land of Edom?

It seems unlikely that God would have chosen to use the Edomites to help His chosen people reach the land He had promised to provide for them. These two nations remained in constant conflict with one another long after Israel conquered and occupied the land of Canaan. The book of Obadiah describes God’s anger against Edom for the way it took advantage of Israel’s later misfortunes when the Babylonians conquered them and left the land desolate and depopulated.

“Because of the violence you did
    to your close relatives in Israel,
you will be filled with shame
    and destroyed forever.
When they were invaded,
    you stood aloof, refusing to help them.
Foreign invaders carried off their wealth
    and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem,
    but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies.

“You should not have gloated
    when they exiled your relatives to distant lands.
You should not have rejoiced
    when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune.
You should not have spoken arrogantly
    in that terrible time of trouble.
You should not have plundered the land of Israel
    when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have gloated over their destruction
    when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have seized their wealth
    when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have stood at the crossroads,
    killing those who tried to escape.
You should not have captured the survivors
    and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble.” – Obadiah 10-14 ESV

The Israelites received no assistance from their distant relatives and were forced to travel southeasterly toward the Arabian desert. This unexpected setback must have disappointed Moses and it’s clear from the next chapter that it left the people of Israel far from pleased.

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. – Numbers 21:4 ESV

This was yet another test for God’s people. Their entrance into the land would not be easy and God was not done teaching them the lessons they needed to learn before that day arrived. Their impatience and disappointment with the unexpected detour around Edom left them disappointed and disgruntled, proving that they were not yet ready to enter His rest.

It seems that God knew that, had His stubborn and rebellion-prone people been warmly greeted by their Edomite relatives, they would have been tempted to settle down, intermarry, and forget all about the promised land. But that was not part of God’s plan. Edom was not their destination, so God continued to purge their leadership and purify their hearts in preparation for the day when He would lead them into their promised inheritance. He had something far better in store for His chosen people.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Redemption in the Face of Rebellion

36 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 37 “Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy. 38 As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the Lord, and they became holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel.” 39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar, 40 to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the Lord, lest he become like Korah and his company—as the Lord said to him through Moses.

41 But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the Lord.” 42 And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. 43 And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces. 46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun.” 47 So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. 49 Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died in the affair of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped. – Numbers 16:36-50 ESV

God cleaned house. He purged the wickedness from the midst of the camp of Israel by swallowing the households of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Then He consumed the 250 co-conspirators with fire as they attempted to offer unacceptable sacrifices to Him. When the smoke had lifted, all that was left were their bronze censers lying among the ashes with their charred bones.

This macabre scene was the result of a test that Moses had arranged to determine who among the Israelites was truly holy to the Lord.

“Korah, you and all your followers must prepare your incense burners. Light fires in them tomorrow, and burn incense before the Lord. Then we will see whom the Lord chooses as his holy one.” – Numbers 16:6-7 NLT

God had declared the outcome of the test in no uncertain terms; the guilty and unholy had been punished. Yet, their destruction produced a rather strange result. The incense burners these rebels had been carrying at the time of their destruction had been purified in the process. The Lord ordered Moses to have them gathered and hammered into a covering for the altar.

“Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to pull all the incense burners from the fire, for they are holy. Also tell him to scatter the burning coals. Take the incense burners of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, and hammer the metal into a thin sheet to overlay the altar. Since these burners were used in the Lord’s presence, they have become holy. Let them serve as a warning to the people of Israel.” – Numbers 16:37-38 NLT

Those men had presented their censers filled with burning incense to the Lord, but He had consumed them with flames because they were guilty of rebelling against Him. But because their incense burners had been presented to God, they had become holy or set apart for His use.

“As we think about the notion of the ‘holy,’ we recognize that things are made holy in Scripture, not because people are holy, but because the things are presented to the Lord, who is holy. Since these wicked men presented their censers to the Lord, the censers are holy, despite the men’s own wickedness.” – Ronald B. Allen, “Numbers.” In Genesis—Numbers. Vol. 2 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary

This entire story provides a powerful reminder of the ever-present danger of doubt in the life of the follower of God. Doubt has a way of turning into disobedience, and disobedience against God is nothing more than rebellion against His Word and His will.

In chapter eight of Numbers, this pattern was lived out in the lives of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On. These men were descendants of Levi and, as such, they were responsible for the care and upkeep of the tabernacle of God. God had set them apart as His servants and their jobs were essential to the spiritual well-being of the people of Israel. However, they were dissatisfied with God’s plan and wanted to debate His distribution of roles and responsibilities; they wanted more authority and a recognition of their own importance.

“You take too much upon yourselves, seeing that the whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the community of the Lord?” – Numbers 16:3 NLT

Korah’s thinly veiled expression of care for the entire community was nothing more than a ruse to cover his own desire for a greater role in the affairs of Israel. He and his companions aspired to supplant Moses and Aaron as the designated leaders of the nation. In their estimation, those two men were no better than they were. As citizens of the nation of Israel and members of the tribe of Levi, they felt they were just as qualified for leadership as Moses and his brother.

They doubted God's order of things and demanded a restructuring of responsibilities and duties. Like Miriam in chapter 12, these men expressed their doubt in God's preordained order of things and it led to their open disobedience and rebellion.

As a holy, righteous King, God was unwilling to tolerate the blatant actions of these men. While the actions of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were more pronounced and worthy of God’s wrath, the truth is that the entire congregation was guilty of turning against God. They had allowed the inflammatory words of Korah to sway their thinking and turn them against Moses and Aaron.

Korah assembled the whole community against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting… – Numbers 16:19 NLT

In response to this open display of communal solidarity and insurrection, God swore to pour out His divine judgment, telling Moses, “Separate yourselves from among this community, that I may consume them in an instant” (Numbers 16:21 NLT). But Moses and Aaron interceded and begged God to spare the congregation and punish only the ring leaders. Yet God would not tolerate rebellion among His people because He knew it was like cancer that, if left unchecked, would spread and infect the entire community. So He set out to eradicate it but, in keeping with Moses’ request, He chose to spare the people.

But despite Moses’ intercession and God’s gracious acquittal of the people, the text reveals that “on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, ‘You have killed the people of the Lord’” (Numbers 16:41 ESV). Unwilling to express gratitude for God’s sparing of their lives, they once again display their ignorance of God’s ways. Refusing to believe that the previous day’s events had been God's will, they openly rebelled against God's representatives and accused them of murder.

Once again, God warned Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the people because He was about to destroy them. But Moses interceded yet again, telling Aaron to take his censer and “carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun” (Numbers 16:36 ESV).

The judgment of God had already begun, and Moses' quick thinking and Aarons' immediate response spared the lives of many. Despite the brothers’ rapid response, 14,700 people died that day – at the hand of God. Yet, the number would have been much higher had Moses and Aaron not taken immediate steps to intercede. The rebellion of the people had been a sin against God, and only the atoning work of Aaron, the high priest, had been able to satisfy the righteous judgment of God against them.

Doubt is inevitable and, if left unchecked, it will always result in disobedience and rebellion against God. Mankind is prone to unfaithfulness, even those who call themselves followers of God. Disobedience is in our nature and the risk of rebellion is a constant threat for each of us.

In the gospel of Luke, there is another story of the people of God rebelling against the will of God. He had sent His Son as the Savior of the world but Jesus didn't come in the form the Israelites had expected. He failed to measure up to the standards they had set for their long-awaited Messiah. Rather than appearing as a conquering king on a white horse leading a powerful army, Jesus had shown up as a carpenter from the small hamlet of Nazareth, accompanied by a rag-tag group of disciples. Instead of revering Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah, the religious leaders of Israel responded with revulsion. As His popularity spread, their desire to eliminate Him grew stronger; they longed to rid themselves of His presence. Eventually, they had Him arrested and dragged before Pilate, the Roman governor. Their goal was to convince Pilate that Jesus was a potential threat to Roman rule by portraying Him as an insurrectionist and troublemaker. Their hope was for a speedy trial and the execution of this upstart Rabbi from Nazareth. But much to their surprise and disappointment, Pilate found Jesus to be innocent of any wrongdoing. He tried repeatedly to release Him, but the Jewish leaders convinced the people to demand His crucifixion. Out of fear that the people would stage a riot, Pilate gave in to their demands.

Their doubt led to disobedience, which resulted in rebellion, and led to the death of the One whom God had sent. They doubted God's Word and rejected His will. Writing more than 750 years before the events of the crucifixion, the prophet Isaiah predicted, “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (Isaiah 53:5 NLT).

God sent His Son to deal with the rebellion of mankind. Yet, Jesus did not come to pour out the wrath of His Father on sinful humanity. In fact, He declared, “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (John 12:47 ESV). His incarnation was the first step in God’s grand redemptive plan to restore humanity to a right relationship with Himself. Jesus provided a means by which sinful men and women could be healed and made whole. He paid the debt that humanity’s sin had incurred. He suffered the death that was the penalty for mankind’s rebellion against His Father. He took on the penalty for our rebellion against God.

It’s interesting to note that Aaron was able to atone for the sins of the people by taking fire from the altar of God and using it to ignite incense in a censer. The same fire that had consumed the 250 leaders who had rejected God’s will was used to atone for and spare the rebellious Israelites. An incense burner in the hand of God’s anointed was how God redeemed the unholy and undeserving. The all-consuming fire of God actually averted the deaths of tens of thousands of Israelites who had been deserving of God’s judgment. The plague was averted and the people were spared.

In much the same way, Jesus, the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity provides healing and atonement for sinful humanity. The Light of the world did not come to condemn and consume but to enlighten the darkness and provide life to those living under the penalty of death. As Jesus told the woman accused of adultery, “…neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.” Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:11-12 BSB).

Even in the face of man’s ongoing rebellion, God is gracious to provide a way of redemption.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Loss of Appetite for God’s Ways

1 And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. 2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. 3 So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them.

4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. 8 The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil. 9 When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.

10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased. 11 Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12 Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers? 13 Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14 I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.” – Numbers 11:1-15 ESV

The people of Israel were on the move. After nearly a year encamped at the base of Mount Sinai, they had watched as the cloud of God’s presence departed from above the Tabernacle, indicating His desire for them to break camp and continue their journey to the land of Canaan. They followed His instructions and methodically made their way to the wilderness of Paran where the cloud had come to rest.

But it wasn’t long before the obedient children of God became disgruntled and obstinate. Their willingness to follow God’s leading came to an abrupt end as soon as they encountered any kind of discomfort or dissatisfaction, and this was not the first time they had expressed their displeasure with God. A year earlier, when they were leaving Egypt after their release from captivity, they found themselves in an unexpected and highly uncomfortable predicament. After Pharaoh had finally agreed to release them, they followed Moses into the wilderness and arrived on the shore of the Red Sea.

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle. – Exodus 13:17-18 NLT

God had led them to that very spot. It had been His will that they arrive on the banks of the sea just as Pharaoh and his army were bearing down on them. It seems that Pharaoh had experienced a change of heart and decided to force the Israelites back into slavery. So, when the people found themselves with their backs to the sea and the army of Egypt bearing down on them, they responded to Moses in anger.

“Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’” – Exodus 14:11-12 NLT

Yet, despite their complaining, God miraculously delivered them. He had Moses part the waters of the Red Sea and they crossed over on dry ground, and the cloud of God’s presence kept the Egyptians at bay until the very last Israelite had made it to the eastern shore of the sea. Then, as Pharaoh’s army attempted to pursue them, “the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived” (Exodus 14:28 NLT).

Their miraculous crossing and the destruction of the Egyptians made an impact on the Israelites.

When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses. – Exodus 14:31 NLT

Now, more than a year later, it appears that their faith had run out. Once again, they struggled with discontentment concerning God’s will for them. They were not happy with their circumstances and so they began to complain to Moses once again.

Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. – Numbers 11:1 NLT

Their year-long hiatus at Mount Sinai had made them lazy and unprepared for the difficulties of traveling through the wilderness. So, the journey to Paran left them disgruntled and dissatisfied with God’s plan for them. They were unhappy and more than willing to voice their displeasure. But again, this was not the first time the Israelites had become disenchanted with God’s will for them.

Three days after their miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, they found themselves in the desert of Shur, a barren place where water was scarce. When they finally discovered an oasis, its water was contaminated and undrinkable. This disappointing outcome led the people to direct their anger at Moses.

Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded. – Exodus 15:24 NLT

But God directed Moses to a particular piece of wood that, when thrown in the spring, “made the water good to drink” (Exodus 15:25 NLT). Having temporarily satiated the thirst of His dissatisfied people, God then led them to another oasis “where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees” (Exodus 15:27 NLT). He provided for all their needs. He even “set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him” (Exodus 15:25 NLT).

“If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” – Exodus 15:26 NLT

All God required of His people was that they remain faithful and obedient. In return, He promised to provide for and protect them; they would never go without. That doesn’t mean they would never experience difficulties along the way. But by trusting God, they would get to see His providential hand providing for their every need.

Yet, a year later, they exhibited the same stubborn tendency to grouse and complain at the slightest inconvenience, and God heard everything they said. As a result, “his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp” (Numbers 11:1 ESV). It’s unclear whether anyone actually died in this conflagration or whether it was only meant to get their attention. Whatever this “fire” was, it had its intended effect, producing fear in the hearts of the Israelites.

…the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the Lord, the fire stopped. – Numbers 11:2 NLT

But while the fire died down, their complaining continued, and it wasn’t long before another round of grievances made their way to the ears of God. It seems that the foreigners who had chosen to accompany the Israelites when they left Egypt had grown disenchanted with the manna that God had provided for them. One month after the Israelites departed Egypt, the people expressed their displeasure to Moses and Aaron over the lack of food.

“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” – Exodus 16:3 NLT

But God heard their complaints and responded with grace and mercy. Rather than sending fire as a punishment for their ungratefulness, He determined to shower them with manna.

“I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” – Exodus 16:12 NLT

God fed them. He miraculously met their physical needs with spiritual food. No one knew exactly what manna was but it provided them with the strength and stamina to continue their journey to the land of Canaan. And God would provide it every day for over 40 years.

So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. – Exodus 16:35 NLT

Yet, just a year after having left Egypt, the people were complaining about the monotonous menu of manna.

“Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!” – Numbers 11:4-6 NLT

They returned God’s grace and mercy with ungratefulness and dissatisfaction. They didn’t like God’s culinary skills. They wanted a more varied and appetizing selection of menu options. In their faulty imaginations, they recalled enjoying a much more diverse and appealing range of food choices back in Egypt. They conveniently forgot the part about slavery and making bricks without straw. They left out the persecution and pain they had experienced during their years of captivity. Driven by their physical appetites, they conjured up memories of their halcyon days in Egypt – which were nothing more than figments of their imaginations.

And, once again, their complaints reached the ears of Moses and God.

Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the Lord became extremely angry. – Numbers 11:10 NLT

But this time, it’s Moses who displays his anger with the people and expresses his frustration with God.

“Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? How can I carry them to the land you swore to give their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” – Numbers 11:11-15 NLT

Moses was not a happy camper. For more than a year he had been attempting to lead a people who were inflexible and incorrigible. Nothing seemed to make them happy, and he was at his wit’s end. He had grown tired of their constant complaining and expressed his frustration to God. The burden of caring for these people had taken its toll and he boldly conveyed his displeasure to God. In fact, Moses seems to blame God for the whole state of affairs. He shakes his fist in Yahweh’s face and, essentially, accuses Him of abandonment. According to Moses, God had placed all the burden of leading the nation of Israel on his back, and he was overwhelmed by it all. He was tapped out and ready to throw in the towel.

Moses was suffering the same condition as the people he claimed to be leading. He had taken his eyes off of the Lord. He no longer recognized the sovereign hand of God over his life and conveniently forgot how the Almighty had provided for all his needs. As a result, he wrongly assumed responsibility for the well-being of God’s people. Moses had forgotten that he was nothing more than a conduit of God’s blessing and not its source. He was responsible for leading them but God was their sole provider and protector.

When God had given the people the manna to eat, He had told them it would be a sign of His power and provision.

“Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” – Exodus 16:12 NLT

Yet, Moses and the people had lost sight of that fact. Comfort and convenience had taken precedence over their faith in God’s sovereignty and providence. Now that the people had the Tabernacle and the guarantee of God’s presence, it was as if they assumed following God would be a trouble-free experience. But at the first sign of discomfort, they complained. And Moses was brazen enough to demand that God fix the problem or kill him on the spot.

“If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” – Numbers 11:15 NLT

They all had a lot to learn about God’s providential care and, despite their ongoing displays of ingratitude and unbelief, God would continue to show them mercy and grace. He would even respond to Moses’ bold ultimatum with love and not anger, providing His servant with a plan for lightening the burden of leadership.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.