King Saul lost his kingdom in the hill country of Bethel. There and his large army of 3,000 faced off against a Philistine army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 men on horses, and soldiers “as numerous as the sand on the seashore.” As daunting as the odds were it was not the enemy that destroyed him. King Saul’s destruction came from inside him. He failed for lack of faith.
Saul knew that he needed a sacrifice to God before he could engage the enemy. He waited and waited and waited and yet the prophet did not come. After seven days Saul offered the sacrifice himself. It sounds harmless, but God had already told him to let the prophet offer the sacrifice. (1 Sam 13:13).
He had many reasons for offering the sacrifice:
1. He was scared. He had 3,000 soldiers against a massive army.
2. He was pressured by the people. He said that he saw his soldiers leaving.
3. He was logical. It seemed like the things to do.
4. It wasn’t his fault. His first line of defense was “When I saw that the men were scattering.”
Excuses, Excuses. They are all just excuses.
The truth is far simpler. In the face of overwhelming odds, King Saul did not have faith in what God told him to do. He figured things out the best way he knew how and did not simply trust God. Seeing this lack of faith the prophet told him, “Now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of His people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.” (1 Sam 13:14).
King Saul lost his kingdom in the hill country of Bethel. He lost it because he did not have the faith to do what God told him to do. He thought he had a better way to do things. He though God would not carry through with what He said He would do.
Faith is not faith if it is the result of your own logic. Faith is only faith when it is all you have.
Don’t Make Excuses!
Lonnie Davis
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