When we consider all that God does for us, do we ever ask what would God like? Recently we sent a package to our son and daughter in law and it didn’t reach them because I had given the wrong address. I knew it wasn’t lost because God knew where it was so I prayed that He would keep it safe. He did. It came back to us so we can correct the address and resend it. That may sound like a small thing, but it was big to us and to our son. How many packages have been lost or stolen? In the same way, He leads me and shows me what faith is. He is my example of faithfulness because He is faithful. All of my life He has been here with me – when I was oblivious and as I was aware. The most wonderful thing about living my life with Him guiding me is awareness of His love and constancy. He is Spirit and He fills all things with His love. He isn’t limited by time or space as we are.

In 1 Samuel 14 there are two phrases that I have always loved. For the backstory, Samuel has instructed Saul what the Lord has for him to do. The Amalekites, according to the notes below, were a band of guerrilla terrorists who made their living by attacking other nations and taking their wealth and families. God has told Saul to destroy them and all that belongs to them. v. 1-3. Saul attacked them but spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, everything that was good. v. 9.

Samuel goes to find Saul but was told he had gone to Carmel to set up a monument in his own honor v. 12. When Samuel reaches Saul, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” v. 13. One of my favorite phrases? “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” v. 14.

Saul then goes on to say, “But I did obey the Lord,..The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder…” v. 20-21.

My second phrase I love? “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. v. 22-23. Samuel goes on to tell Saul that because he rejected the word of the Lord, he is rejected as king.

Saul begs Samuel to return with him so he will be honored before the elders of his people. What about God? Samuel does go back with Saul and he completes what Saul left undone. Agag, the king of the Amalekites is put to death because “As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” v. 33. After this, Saul never saw Samuel again.

When I think about all the times God has been faithful for me, how can I not be faithful to Him and trust His leading me? Saul could have been faithful and could have been a wonderful example for his men but instead he honored himself and blamed the men when he failed to obey the Lord…the soldiers took sheep and cattle. What does God delight in? The sacrifice of our love and faith and obedience. Is obedience really such a hard word to swallow? When it comes as a direction from men, yes. When it comes from and to God – never. Everything God does is for our good. Can we say the same? How about these words…rebellion, arrogance, idolatry? I’d rather obey God who is faithful in all things…things small and things that last into eternity with Him.