Yes, Saul thought he had it all figured out. He would find a “seer,” a prophet of God, who would tell him the location of his father’s wandering donkeys, and he would then take them home. Instead, Saul learned that the donkeys had already been found (verse 20), so his quest turned out to be pointless. Even more embarrassingly, Saul had no idea that Samuel was the “seer” when they first met (verse 18). No, Saul never really did understand what was really going on. It was obvious that he wasn’t in charge.
And maybe you feel the same way. Maybe your life seems to be spinning out of control. Maybe you have no idea how to make ends meet, or how to restore a broken relationship, or how to handle all the responsibilities that have fallen on your shoulders. Saul complained that he was from an insignificant family in the smallest of Israel’s tribes (verse 21), so he knew what it was like to be in over his head.
And when you think about it, Samuel was in a similar situation. He had no idea who God would appoint to replace him as Israel’s leader. But in verse 16, God said he would send a man from Benjamin so that Samuel could anoint him as king. And it was the Lord who identified Saul as the chosen one (verse 17). No, Samuel didn’t have any more control over how things turned out than Saul did.
But notice this: while Saul wanders cluelessly through this entire passage, Samuel was spending a whole day making elaborate preparations for his appearance, reserving the best portion of food and a place at the table for a man he hadn’t even met (verses 22-24). Samuel was thus acting completely on faith, trusting that the Lord would keep His promise, and doing the best he could to play his part in God’s plan to deliver His people (verse 16).
So no, we may not know how everything is going to turn out for us or our loved ones. We may not really understand what is going on in our lives, or in the world around us. But the God of lost donkeys and clueless kings and faithful prophets is our God as well. There is nothing He doesn’t understand, nothing that is beyond His control. So, let us listen to Him, trusting His promises to deliver us even from our most difficult problems, in His way and in His time. And let us obey His Word today, even if it doesn’t always make sense to us.
I Samuel 9:14-10:1 (NASB)
14 So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.
15 Now a day before Saul’s coming, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel saying,
16 “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 shall deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people.”
18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
19 And Samuel answered Saul and said, “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.
20 “And 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?”
21 And Saul answered and said, “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?”
22 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men.
23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion that I gave you, concerning which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.'”
24 Then the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 When they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.
26 And they arose early; and it came about at daybreak that Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.
27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Say to the servant that he might go ahead of us and pass on, but you remain standing now, that I may proclaim the word of God to you.”
10:1 Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you a ruler over His inheritance?
