1 Sam 9:1-14 Looking at God working in Sauls life shows us how God can work in our life
You might think God only works in the Big stuff, but God works in the small stuff as well
Early we see the story of Saul dealing with some ordinary stuff. His dad has lost his donkeys. What is this story even doing in the scriptures? How do we get somewhere with the story of these donkeys?
God knows what he’s doing in your family background
Saul doesn’t appear out of no where. He has a family background
Family background was important in the life of Abraham, the genealogy of Jesus was important in the scriptures. The genealogy of kings in the OT.
Your background isn’t everything, but God can use it. He knows what he’s doing!
Proverbs 16:4 The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
V1-2 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
Kish- Sauls dad appears to be wealthy. He has donkeys and servants. Perhaps he was an important man. Benjamin was of the smallest tribes Israel in the middle Israel.
Sauls family had tall genes. His family was important. He was handsome. He had a presence about him
Saul, by his appearance was everything that Israel hoped for in a King- Tall, handsome, from a good family, had wealth. What could go wrong?
What does it mean to you?
You have a history and a background that has brought you to this point
You may not like your family background, but it was no accident
Acts 17:26 says that God knew when someone was supposed to be be born
Acts 17:26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
God placed you where you are for a reason. You are supposed to be where you are to affect HIS plans
Deuteronomy 32:8 When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel.
Can you believe that God knew when you were going to be born, who your parents would be and that he planned for you to be alive at this time?
Having this mind set helps you understand where you live and the time you live in-
AND that he can use who you are to advance HIS kingdom- You can reach certain people that other people cant. You can minister to people that other people cant.
You matter. Your story matters. You can be used by God for his purposes
God knows what he’s doing with setbacks and interruptions 3-4)
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.
Saul is sent out on a donkey finding mission. He goes with his servant, travel everywhere and can’t find the donkeys
Seems like a setback. Why him? Why the donkeys?
Saul probably thought he was just looking for donkeys, but it wasn’t that way at all
He’s lost looking for Donkeys, his servant recommends asking a prophet, and that prophet is none other than Samuel.
Had he not been looking for the donkeys, he wouldn’t have met Samuel and wouldn’t have became king.
What does it mean to you
One of the hardest parts of being human is the inability we have to control all the variables in living our lives
It would be easier if we could control everything and never have any distractions or things that keep us from accomplishing our tasks and days
But its just not that way at all. Life happens! When you least expect it-
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Sometimes we’re just like Saul- out there looking for Donkeys wondering what the heck is going on
And its in the midst of the donkey search that God shows up and redirects our life in amazing ways
Learn to be Ok with distractions. Learn to rest in what you’re dealing with and going through.
1 peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
Part of trusting God is trusting him in the distractions and setbacks of your life
The times you see God moving most are when you lost that job, lost that relationship, car broke down, ran out of money, redirected plans. Trust it
God knows what he’s doing in the people around you v 5-10
6 And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”
READ V5-10
The inter connectedness of this story can’t be over stated. Saul, Kish, his servant, then these young women, and then Samuel
God worked through all of these people to bring about spiritual result
Many times in the Bible you find God working through his people to his people.
Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
What does it mean to you?
If you have any individualism in your heart towards God and his church, you need to repent of it and get your head right- God uses people and you need to be around people to experience that
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Couple weeks ago- discouraged- Aaron Q called out of the blue
1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Why do you want spiritual gifts? So you can be awesome? Or so God can grow his church?
Hebrews 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
God knows what his timeline is v 11-14
God is at work in the timing of events (11-14)
READ V 11-14
At the exact time that they need to- they meet some girls who are going for water. They ask them about the prophet, and they give them the exact place to find him.
Saul is looking for donkeys for 3 days, and right at that time, the prophet is back from his travels as well.
If they were early or late, they may have missed him.
And, its Samuel! They come into the city at the right time, to meet him, and go to the festival.
What does it mean to you
Often times we feel like we have missed the boat. We were at the wrong place at the wrong time and we missed the boat
Buying Kmart stock .66 a share in 2001, 1k In, would be worth about 200k in 2007. Dang it.
You might be off time, but God is always right on time.
You have NOT missed the boat. God is NOT done with you. Your BEST days are ahead of YOU
Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
Acts 1:7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. Psalm 31:15 My times are in Your hand;
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
God works in your family back ground, your interruptions and setbacks, the people he has around you and the timing of your life
You might feel like you’re just looking for donkeys, but God’s hand is always there!
