In 1 Samuel 9 -10 there are a lot of signs shown to Saul of
Samuel’s foreknowledge. These
signs just seem to come thick and fast.
--When Saul came to Samuel to inquire of him where he could
find the donkeys that were lost, Samuel was told by the Lord that he was
coming, when he would be there, and that he was to be king.
--When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him Saul was to be
king.
--Samuel told Saul without being asked that his donkeys had
been found. This demonstrates
foreknowledge of Saul’s problem and the answer.
--Samuel had already saved some food ahead of time
specifically for Saul.
--Samuel also told Saul about who Saul would meet on his
journey home, what those people would do and say. 1) People would tell him the donkeys were found and of the
worry of his father 2) People would give him provisions for his journey back,
since he had exhausted his supplies. 3)People would prophesy and he would
prophesy with them and be given a new heart by God.
We might well ask ourselves why so many miracles and so much
seership demonstrated?
I personally think these miracles were meant to impress upon
Saul that his calling to kingship was real. He was inclined to doubt the
calling because he didn’t see himself or his family as the clear choice for
this honor. In fact, he saw his
family as the least of the tribe of Benjamin and Benjamin as the least of the
tribes of Israel.
But when the man who gives the calling can tell you what
you’re worried about and give you the answer before you even ask the question,
that person is not to be dismissed when he tells you other things to come, even
something as far-fetched as a call to kingship.
The miracles also build Saul’s confidence that the Lord knew
him and knew what would happen and would guide him. They taught in various ways the foreknowledge of God.
1) The Lord knew what Saul was looking for and had taken
care of the little things because there were bigger things for Saul to do.
2) The Lord knew of Saul and could help others recognize him
as king too. (In fact, the drawing
lots among the tribes and the battle Saul fights to save the Israelites at
Jabesh-gilead in 1 Samuel 11 are divinely orchestrated as well and help
convince Israel Saul is the one chosen by God.)
3) The Lord could provide for Saul the things he needed.
4) The Lord could change Saul to fit the role he was going
to have.
I think it is interesting that when Samuel finishes telling
Saul all the things that will happen on the way home, he also tells him he will
have to wait.
And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I
will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and
to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I
come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. (1 Samuel 10:8)
After all the miracles, Saul will have to wait seven days
while nothing happens. To me this
exemplifies the principle that sometimes there is a bunch of miracles happening
in our lives where we see quite clearly how the Lord is working, and other
times we have to wait patiently and keep the faith.
Lucky Saul was given a time limit to wait, but we often are
not; we just have to hang on.
There is a time for doing the hard work to show our faith (and we don’t
often know how long that will be), and there is the time of miracles that
confirm that faith.
0 comments:
Post a Comment