2024_03_11 Insight Post- Kim Feld
This week’s reading- 1 Samuel 9 -11
I find Saul to be one of the most complicated characters the Bible tells us about. In our reading this week, we see the beginning of Saul’s rise to become the first king of Israel. We see another example of the Bible’s honesty in describing the humanity of the characters it tells about. Becoming king was not on Saul’s radar. At first, he questions Samuel about his worthiness, given the small size of the tribe and clan he came from. Still, God’s choice of Saul is confirmed through a series of events. Yet, Saul is still portrayed as a reluctant leader. Take a look:
20 So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. 21 Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 22 So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?” And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.” 23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else (1 Samuel 10:20-23, NLT).
The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly why Saul was hiding, but having their new king found among the baggage likely did not instill much confidence. Because Saul was the first king, he had no way of knowing precisely what his new role would be, but it seems he didn’t feel adequate for the task. As his story continues, we see God providing all he needs to succeed. Still, Saul’s downfall began with not listening to God.
I have had times in my life when I felt God calling me to something that seemed like more than I could handle. Instead of trusting that God could do more through me than I could ever do on my own, I have struggled with insecurity and doubt. The reality is that God regularly calls us to things that are beyond ourselves to prove that His power is what we need.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul tells of something he asked God to remove from his life. He refers to it as a “thorn in the flesh.” He said he asked God three times for this to be removed, but look at God’s answer:
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NIV).
God was fully aware of Saul’s weaknesses, yet He wanted to use him. If Saul had recognized that God’s grace was sufficient and that His power was made perfect in Saul’s weakness, his story could have turned out much differently. The same is true for you and me. If God calls us to something, He will equip us – not through our power, but through His.
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach