1 Samuel 9 - God's Appointment

When we go through the everyday frustrations of life whether they be traffic, conflict at work or home or the stresses of stretching a dollar to fund your life we can be sure that God can use each situation for His purposes. Only God knows the plans He has for you. Take for example Saul in the 9th chapter of 1 Samuel; he began his day in search of lost donkeys and found himself in the presence of Samuel the judge who would appoint him king over Israel. 

Saul was from a very small tribe of Israel, from a family without prominence, yet he was tall and strong. Saul was a formidable man. He didn't have a lot, but by the next day, Saul would have power and fame unequalled. He would be Israel's first king and forever people would study his life for principles of leadership. 

How did Samuel select him?  Well Samuel didn't, God did. In 1 Sam 9:16, God tells Samuel that a Benjamites would come and he should anoint him leader over God's people. There were no elections...just God giving the people what they demanded; a king like the rest of the nations. Saul didn't have the preparation to be king, yet God drew Saul to Samuel for this appointment. 

Saul thought he was searching for donkeys, but in reality God was guiding his steps to accomplish his purposes. It reminds me that even in the busyness of our day God is at work and we do need His wisdom to carry out our daily tasks for what I may believe is my intended goal may be dramatically different from God's plan. I should never be too busy to take time to seek God's will for my day. Fellowship with the Lord will help me to rest in the assurance that my day is on His hands. 

Furthermore, we need the assurance that our position wherever we are is appointed.  If we have menial jobs, they are appointed by God. If we are promoted it is from God's hand and not our own. We are far too quick to blame unpleasant tasks on some external power; a boss or perhaps even the devil himself. We are also far too quick to inflate our own egos when we have a promotion or special blessing. We convince ourselves that it is deserved and right. In both cases, God uses our station in life to place us right where He needs us to serve. As with Saul, if God chose to promote us He certainly could through no doing of our own. 

As we go about our day today, can we find God's purpose in our tasks or at least trust God for the purpose and know that our days are in His hands?  With our live hidden in God there is no telling what He might do with them. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.