Saul :: Patience

His Story“He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal and Saul offered up the burnt offeringâ€? â€" 1 Sam. 13:8-10 (NIV)

Saul stood with his army for seven days, the amount of time agreed upon by him and Samuel, awaiting the arrival of the old prophet. Across the battle lines stood a military that the Bible says, “were as numerous as the sand on the seashore� (1 Sam. 13:5). It’s easy to see how Saul, with just three thousand men, was overcome by fear and anxiety. Though he had an all-powerful God fighting at his side, it didn’t comfort Saul any. In addition, Saul’s own men trembled with fear and some even scattered. The Bible says that the Israelites “saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard-pressed� (1 Sam. 13:6). Even those soldiers protecting Saul were “quaking with fear� (1 Sam. 13:7). The king was in a challenging predicament. Through Saul’s eyes we can see a better glimpse of the picture: He was up against a massive force; his men were defecting; he was afraid; and Samuel had not appeared. His choices: sin or obedience; wait patiently on the Lord or take matters into his own hands.

Someone told me a story of a young man who had no driver’s license awaiting a ride. Impatient waiting on the ride he had called, he asked his brother’s friend for a lift. On the way to his destination, an officer stopped the car and searched the vehicle, the driver, and all of the passengers. To the misfortune of the young man, the driver possessed of a reasonable sum of marijuana. The police charged the driver â€" and each passenger â€" with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. He spent 11 months in jail for a crime not his own. Had he been patient and waited for his original ride, he may not have been so unfortunate.

It takes time to develop patience. In fear, stupidity, and impatience, Saul, looking not to God who gives the victories, chose to look at the battle through his natural eyes. In doing so, he foolishly offered sacrifices to God â€" the duty only of the priest. It’s no coincidence that as his patience finally gave way to sin that Samuel arrived.

As Scripture records, Saul’s sought to justify his actions: “When I saw that the men were scattering� … “You did not come at the set time� … “The Philistines were assembling� … “I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering� (1 Sam. 13:11, 12). The Bible says, “When words are many, sin is not absent� (Prov. 10:19). Samuel, being a very spiritual man, responds accurately: “You have acted foolishly� (1 Sam. 13:13).

We, too, can act foolishly when it comes to situations that test our faith in God. But it is times like these that God seeks to reveal himself to us. It may be that we are waiting on God’s answer to a prayer we have offered, or we may be in a situation that requires divine intervention. Whatever it is, we must exercise patience. It is better to suffer a little with patience than a great deal in disobedience. Samuel rebuked Saul again later after further disobedience by the king: “It is better to obey than to sacrifice; and to heed better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry� (1 Sam. 15:22-23). God wants us to remain faithful no matter the circumstances. We have to trust him and not lean to our own understanding (Pro. 3:5). When we take it upon ourselves to act on God’s behalf we do just that, we act like God. Saul later created a monument in his own honor (1 Sam 15:12). He forgot God.

Learn From Him
It may seem inconceivable for us to imagine following the ways of Saul â€" from being a man who was nothing in his own sight to a man completely enamored by his own image. But we can fall into this trap when we approach situations God means for his glory without faith. When confronted with a challenge or a trial, remember that God has sent a deliverer and we need only wait for him to arrive.

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