As I read 1 Samuel 16:1-13 this morning, what hit me was the interplay between God and Samuel, from an emotional perspective. Samuel was pouting over God’s rejection of Saul. The reason? He wasn’t ready to accept God’s will in the matter. God’s response? Get over it Samuel and OBEY Me. To which Samuel responds, “How can I do that?! What if Saul hears about it?! He’ll kill me!!” Samuel was allowing fear to drive his wagon, which negatively affected his obedience to God’s direction. What was God’s response to this? OBEY Me. Take a heifer with you, invite Jesse to a sacrifice, and then follow My lead. Samuel finally did so.
Once Samuel arrived, he invited Jesse to the sacrifice, and seven out of eight of Jesse’s sons came along. Even though God told Samuel He would direct him as to which son to anoint, as each son arrived, Samuel assumed “this one” would be God’s choice as He focused on their outward appearance. God, knowing Samuel’s mindset, reminded him that He doesn’t make His choices according to outward appearances. God’s focus is on the UNSEEN. God directed Samuel to anoint David, a man after His own heart.
You know, as I read this passage initially, I found myself getting irritated with Samuel. I thought, “Buck up buttercup! Do what God is telling you to do!”, but then the Spirit convicted me that I find myself in this exact position with God at times. I filter things through how they will affect me, both physically, relationally, and emotionally; when what pleases God most is immediate obedience.
Another fact that the Spirit prompted me to notice is how God didn’t just send Samuel off as a lone ranger to do this job. He was going with Samuel, directing him. God directed Samuel as to what to take, what to say, as well as who to anoint. Sure, from the human perspective, God was giving Samuel a scary job to do, but God didn’t expect him to do it alone. God fully intended to go with Samuel. Samuel just had to step out in obedience.
PAUSE TO PONDER. Is there anything that God is telling you to do that you’ve been dragging your feet on? If so, could it be that you are filtering God’s direction through your own abilities instead of God’s abilities? Choose obedience. Choose to focus on the unseen, where God works. Don’t allow emotions to stop you, and don’t allow the “seen” to trip you up, causing you to lean to your own understanding, or causing you to hide behind your own doubt. Just like God was going with Samuel, He is going with you. Trust Him.