1 SAMUEL 8:19-22
The idiom, ‘Be careful what you ask for’, has a long history. It comes from Aesop’s fables created around 260 BC. It means if you get things that you desire, there may be unforeseen and unpleasant consequences.
Samuel served as Israel’s last judge, and the first prophet after Moses. Despite his wise counsel and warning, the people believed they knew better. They set aside his advice to pursue their desire for a king to rule over them. Samuel, in his displeasure, took his frustration to God, who guided his response. Taking our concerns to God ahead of expressing them publicly is a good principle to follow.
Wisdom teaches that choices made from direct comparison with others may not end up well. The Israelites wanted to be like other nations, but they were not thinking of the implications. The superficial good concealed the challenges beneath. Samuel knew what appointing a king would amount to. The people just clamoured for robust leadership.
God asked Samuel to let go. What was to Samuel a bad decision, was being allowed by God.
It is a scary reality to think that God would let people have their own way. He knew He knows best, yet He allows them to have what they want. I can imagine God saying, “You want a king – okay, have a king. Though I led you out of slavery in Egypt and brought you into the promised land, though I have always had your best interest in mind, you do not have to listen to me on this one.” Pathetic!
May this not be the case in our lives. May our hearts not be so hardened to the point of God letting us have our way over His own will.
God has done so much for us. Sending His one and only son, Jesus, to serve and give His life as a ransom for many – for you and me. Let the weight of that sink in. Jesus died and was resurrected for the very people who may choose to obey their own voice over His.
This is where listening to God’s voice over our own starts. It begins by resting in what has already been done for us. Our hearts should soften when we hear these truths, allowing God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to mold us, change us, and guide us as we live.
* Dear Lord, we need You today. We need Your direction, Your counsel and Your wisdom. Guide us today in Your will. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
