Set up for success

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Liz Nixon:

What did I like about today’s passage?

The people want to be like the other nations around them and ask for a King, rejecting God as their King. Saul is introduced – he is tall, handsome and on the surface, he looks great. But he is a reluctant king, who hides at his own coronation, he lacks integrity and doesn’t admit his mistakes. Additionally, he disobeys God’s direct commands – pride is his downfall because he thinks he knows better than God.

Saul is doing his normal day job as a farmer when he is side-tracked, meets Samuel the prophet and is then anointed the first King of Israel. I like that God often works in the most unexpected times and places – in the normal, day to day, (often boring!) activity of life.

The people gathered at Mizpah and Saul is chosen, a man who stands head and shoulders above other men. It looks like the people have the king they wanted. And so, it’s quite funny that at the moment of his coronation, Saul cannot be found - he has been hiding amongst the baggage! It’s ironic that the longed-for King is not so keen on being king!

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

We see that God is very much for Saul, setting him up to succeed in his role as king. The passage shows that God had chosen Him, anointed Him, changed His heart, fulfilled promised signs, put His Spirit upon him and was with him as he governed the people.

I love the phrase “God doesn’t call the equipped but equips the called”. Even though God knows Saul will not be a good king (for the most part), God still equipped and empowered him for what he had been called to do. It could easily seem like a waste of time, energy, and resource, given that Saul does not walk in God’s ways, and that God knows this ahead of time! But God does not set us up to fail – He sees the one He lovingly created and gives Saul what he needs to be all that He made him to be. And I can have confidence that what God did for Saul, He does and will continue to do for me. What He does for the one, He will do for all!

What am I going to do differently as a result?

When I read the Bible, I want to try and not be so simplistic about things – people are rarely all good or all bad. So, when I come across a character who makes bad choices, I’m going to choose to remember that God dearly loves that person – He is always hoping for good for them and working in them and through them to fulfil His purposes.

Who am I going to share this with?

My husband.