1 Samuel 9: 14-17 and 26-27 - They went up to the town, and
as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to
the high place. Now the day before Saul
came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel: "About this time tomorrow I will send you
a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader
over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand
of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me." When
Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, "This is
the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people."
They rose about
daybreak and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get ready, and I will
send you on your way." When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside
together. As they were going down to the
edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of
us"--and the servant did so--"but you stay here awhile, so that I may
give you a message from God."
Saul had been sent to look for some lost donkeys…they had
been gone three days…out of food…out of money…and Saul was ready to give up and
go home. But the servant remembered the
prophet Samuel …and thought that he lived nearby. The servant saw one more
opportunity to find these valuable animals…even though Saul was ready to call
it quits.
God had already told Samuel that he was sending him a man
from the small tribe of Benjamin…and as soon as these two travelers came into
Samuel’s sight…God revealed that Saul was who he had sent. Samuel poured out to
Saul and his servant a perfect account of the last three days of events to them…including
a summary of his future as king. Then Samuel invited them to a great feast…where
Saul was served the choicest piece of meat...and honored with a seat at the
head of the table.
After the dinner and a good night’s rest…Samuel was still
having trouble grasping the concepts that were being laid out for his
future. In Moses like disbelief...he had
uttered to Samuel all the reasons Samuel’s prophecy was absolutely crazy…forgetting
that his servant had already told him the record this man had for predicting
and delivering only the truth as God would have it uttered.
If you still believe in coincidence…this might just be the
story that convinces you that with God there is no such thing. God takes simple things…like lost donkeys and
two tired unsuccessful travelers….to work his great plans of love. And sometimes the ordinary gets mixed with
the supernatural if we are paying attention…like Samuels vision of God’s plans
for his people…through a common man from the smallest tribe of Israel. If we
are paying attention….God takes the ordinary pieces of our human lives…and
changes us into his bold servants of love.
Think about it…maybe it was just one tiny tear of God as he
walked lonely across the face of the empty world…that he supernaturally turned
into gallons times gallons to the millionth power of different kinds of water
on this great Earth he created. Our imaginations simply have no way to predict
what he is up to next in our simple lives….just a Saul had no clue what Samuel’s
words meant to his future in that moment they were spoken. I sure needed a reminder on this ‘ordinary’
Easter Sunday that he is not finished revealing his glory and power…the power
that was released when he conquered death and rose from that grave. It is also a reminder that Easter is nothing
but ordinary…it is not just a celebration of our heritage and beginnings….but a
call to be his bold courageous servants…to minister to a hurting and dying
world. It was the servant who directed
him to Samuel after all.
Oh wonderful father….I thank you for this glorious day! A humble…simple…reminder that you gave your
son to die for my sins…and the knowledge in my heart that he supernaturally
rose from the grave to conquer death. Help
me to always remember that you power is able to do anything….from helping me to
be obedient in studying your Bible…to the supernatural abilities you have anointed
some to heal disease. Make me today into a confident servant like Samuel…able
to listen and act on everything you give me to do. Amen.
PS…. Just a link to a great song done by the Christian group
Avalon… Adonai… that has blessed me through the years! http://youtu.be/iRRUH3g_268
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