FATHER KNOWS BEST -- Devotional for August 15, from "Good Seeds"

Now the elders of Israel came to Samuel and said, ”Behold you have grown old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us now a king.” This was displeasing to Samuel, so he went to the Lord about it. God said, “As you listen to the people you’ll realize this: they have not rejected you as their judge – they have rejected Me as their King.” (I Samuel 8:4-7)

Here’s another example of craving what we want and insisting that God give it to us – and coming to ruin for it (see August 14). The Israelites had finally made it to the Promised Land and had begun their existence as an independent nation, under God. But this became a point of disagreement between them and their, their…what was Samuel’s position, anyway? He wasn’t a king or governor, nor was he a prophet or priest, in the strictest sense. The Bible calls him a judge. But he was more, for in him was a rare combination of political genius and spiritual guru. He led and fed his people as a shepherd cares for his sheep (see I Samuel 12:23). But when his sons, who were to succeed him, proved themselves unworthy, an outcry arose to trash the theocracy altogether, in favor of a monarchy. What were they thinking? Samuel spelled out for them just exactly what they were getting themselves into (verses 10-18). Their response, “Yeah, yeah, we know! Just the same - and we are of one mind on this - we want a king, just like all the other countries around us (vs. 19). Then we can proudly take our place among the nations, and go to battle against any of them, if necessary, our king meeting and defeating theirs.” From the 20/20 perspective of hindsight we know that God indeed intended for Israel to have a king. But the people were not following God’s timetable nor were they listening to His voice regarding His choice of the right man. If they wanted what God wanted, it was merely by coincidence. Their motive was envy – to “keep up with the Joneses.” God’s plan was to establish His only Son, Jesus, to rule over the world in righteousness forever. And He would be born of the royal family line of David. But caring nothing about God’s plan, the Israelites went out and found and crowned Saul – tall, dark and handsome Saul! But he was the wrong man, and it was the wrong time, and the result was a shameful fiasco. What is the lesson here? Next time you want something so bad you can taste it, you’d better spit it out quick, as a bad taste in your mouth. Wait for God’s perfect timing and provision. Remember, “Father knows best.” Don’t worry if there’s leanness in your life or ministry right now, you just keep feeding your soul on that bountiful supply of heavenly manna. Putting your present desires on hold for now may be the path to the perfect job God has in store for you, in His perfect time!