Be Careful What You Ask For

May 17

I Samuel 8-10

Psalm 61

Proverbs 13:24-25

John 7

Be Careful What You Ask For

“The people refused to listen to Samuel.  ‘No,’ they said, ‘We must have a king over us.  Then we will be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.’  Samuel listened to all the people’s words and then repeated them to the Lord.  ‘Listen to them,’ the Lord told Samuel, ‘Appoint a king for them.’”  I Samuel 8:19-22 HCSB

The people of Israel did not need an earthly king.  God was their leader and He served as their king.  God gave them instructions through priests, judges, and prophets.  His plan was perfect.  If they had listened to Him and obeyed His instructions, they would have been successful in everything they did.  With God as their leader, they were invincible.  But they decided they knew better.  They looked around at all the other nations and decided they wanted to be like them.  The elders got together and went to Samuel to tell him that they wanted a king.  Samuel presented their request to God and God told him to warn them of the consequences of having a king ruling over them.  He told them how the king would take their land and their sons and their daughters for his use.  He warned them that a king would make them servants and they would be treated as they had been treated in Egypt.  But they refused to listen.  They demanded a king, so God gave them what they wanted and appointed Saul as their king.  Saul started out ok, but eventually everything Samuel predicted came true.  

It is easy to read this story now and see how foolish the Israelites were.  If they had listened to God and obeyed Him, they would have been very successful and would have had everything they ever wanted.  But instead, they followed their own desires and plans and ended up having years of heartache and struggle during Saul’s reign.  Sadly, we are too often like the Israelites.  We get an idea in our head, and we won’t take no for an answer.  We think we know best.  We think if God gives us this job, or this new house, or this spouse, everything will be great.  We look around and want to be like everybody else.  God tries to warn us about the consequences, but we refuse to listen.  He has a plan that is perfect and will give us the life that is best for us, but it isn’t what we have in mind, so we keep pressuring Him to give us what we want. Unfortunately, sometimes He gives in and gives us what we want.  I’ve done that as a parent.  My kids keep asking for something I know is not a good idea and that they will regret.  I warn them that they will regret it, but finally I give in to teach them a lesson and to show them that I really do know what I’m talking about, and they should listen to me.  We can save ourselves a lot of heartache if we just listen to God and obey Him.  He really does know best.  He has a plan that is perfect for each of us.