Talking
about divine coincidence, we can now be certain that God was orchestrating the
whole event. From the lost donkeys of Kish to the journey of Saul through
Shalishah, Shaalim, and Zuph. Even the initiative of the servant and the
encounter with the young women at the well were all working at the behest of
God. Yes, even the seemingly chance meeting that Samuel and Saul met on the way
up to the sacrifice in verse 14. Nothing was incidental. Everything was
divinely intentional.
First
Samuel 9:15-16 narrate to us what happened the day before Samuel met Saul. God
specifically told the prophet that “About this time tomorrow I will send you a
man from the land of Benjamin and you shall anoint him to be prince over
My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the
Philistines. For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
This underscores the fact that God will reveal to His servant the plan He has,
to accomplish His will. It underscores for us His people to learn to discern
the working of God from the host of activities that we encounter ad nauseum in
life. The key reason God was sending Saul to them was not so much because they
needed a king but because God had regard for their needs. It could be that the
people were more concerned with the constant threats coming from the
Philistines.
When
Samuel set his eye on Saul, immediately the Lord confirmed that Saul was the
Benjamite He was talking about. Saul, of course, had no idea who Samuel was.
How could he if he didn’t even know that there was a seer among them until his
servant revealed it to him. So, he approached Samuel asking, “Please
tell me where the seer’s house is.” And the response he got was, “I
am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me
today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on
your mind. As for your donkeys which 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 household?”
We
can detect in Samuel’s tone a tint of sarcasm. The people had demanded a king
and Saul had no awareness of it. He must have been quite puzzled by Samuel’s
words. He knew about the father’s lost donkeys but was totally lost with the
part that said, “And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it
not for you and for all your father’s household?” Bewildered by what
Samuel said Saul responded by saying, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the
smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families
of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?” He was
obviously unaware and must be wondering why Samuel spoke like that to him. His
perplexing words made no sense to Saul. He must have wondered what was happening. He knew he hailed from an
insignificant tribe, so how could he be destined for such a
position.
This account tells us that our calling by God has nothing to do with our
qualification. Our qualification has nothing to merit God’s acceptance. None of
us had anything spiritually outstanding that can commend us to God. Paul said that
it is by grace alone and not works, lest anyone should boast. We should instead
give thanks to God that though we are nothing, He made something beautiful out
of our life.
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