I bumped into this conversation between King Saul and the prophet Samuel. I got interested why the latter gave the king such a stern rebuke.
1 Samuel 13:8-13
"He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
At the first glance, you would see that indeed, King Saul did wait. Based on the time given by the prophet Samuel, i.e. to wait for seven days. And it was Samuel who did not beat his deadline. So what to do? King Saul did what seemed best to do that time. Besides, his men are getting restless and scattered, and the threat of Philistine’s attack is too much to handle--- Saul just got to do something before it’s too late! My first impression was that King Saul made a proactive move because Samuel was late.
Until Samuel came and rebuked him for having done such “foolish thing.” The act of offering a sacrifice in itself was good. Saul still sought the favor of the Lord, didn’t he? Yet the foolishness that Samuel pointed out in Saul was the attitude of his heart—there was distrust and faithlessness. Distrust on Samuel’s word that he will come. So Saul did not wait further. He did not have any second thought that God must be up to something and come what may, he will wait until Samuel comes and hear from him what happened. Faithlessness because it was so easy for him to shift focus from the God to the circumstances at hand.
The moment he shifted his focus, he panicked and thought he could do the ritual himself. And perhaps, he would hear from God himself. Perhaps he thought, “why, does it always have to be the prophets that hear the Lord? Well, not this time. I will hear it directly from God. Besides, Samuel defaulted already. ” Nonetheless, in God’s eyes, it was disobedience. It was foolish!
What is God Saying To Me?
From this passage God reminded me that He works in His perfect timing. That He is not bound by man’s schedule, goals and even circumstances. Much more, He looks at the attitude of our hearts. A lot of times God rebuked me with being so driven. And a lot of times I got myself into conflict (especially with my husband!) because of this. While it is just so easy for me to just attribute or find excuse from my temperament style (Choleric), I know in my heart and by experience that pacing with my Lord is always ideal and puts my soul at rest. He works perfectly when I am not meddling with His agenda for my life—in His own time and His own terms.
One example was my desire to go cross-cultural missions, particularly to the Unreached People Groups. (UPGs). Having trained myself with TESOL, I felt that I was ready to plunge to the unknown and see my dreams come true. I want to see my life making a difference in the lives of those who don’t have much access to the world’s resources. My plan was to join a team of missionaries who are into community development with holistic approach. I read books and connected with people who shares with my desired direction.
But God’s plan is far different from what I pictured it to be then. He led me to marry instead and become an instant mommy! And not only that, He brought us to IGSL (www.glg-igsl.org). It was exciting though and I could say that my joy is full. Yet everything happened fast---and in between I would have moments of grief over loss of freedom as single person (although I am basically free under the authority of my husband ;-) , or that my dream may not come true anymore as I committed to embrace the calling of my husband after IGSL. The one thing that comforts me every time is the fact that God’s timing is always perfect. What is important is I am at the center of God’s will and nothing can ever go wrong as I keep pace with my Lord.
Every Monday, I attend classes under the Partners in Ministry (PIM) program. We are a multi-cultural class. And as if God has seen my longing to practice TESOL, He just led me to help a classmate, an Indonesian woman who needs a tutor. She and husband pastors a church of Indonesian congregation in Makati City. My heart sings!
Whether cross-cultural missions or not, my prayer is that may I be consistently be in-step with my Lord and to wait upon Him come what may. In His time and in His own terms.
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