How many times have you argued against doing what you have been told to do? How many times have you argued against doing what you know is right to do? Have you argued because it was hard? Have you argued because you were embarrassed? Why did you argue?
There are situations in which we do not want to do what we are told or know to be right. We can give a variety of excuses, but they all are lame. They hold no water. Others can see right through our excuse. Yet we often hold onto them. All because we fear.
Samuel was no different. God told him to go to Jerusalem. He said that he would show Samuel who to anoint as the next king. Samuel did not want to go. Why? Fear. He was afraid King Saul would kill him. He did have a legitimate concern. King Saul was known to be jealous. He might have reacted in a very harsh way. His anger may have caused him to kill Samuel. Yet Samuel was a prophet of God. He should have known God would take care of him.
We, also, sometimes do not want to do what God has commanded us to do. Why? Most of the time the reason is fear. Fear of being embarrassed. Fear of shame. Fear of being ostracized. Fear of being persecuted. We can state any number of fears. We can deny it…but only to others. We know deep down inside why. God also knows why. But just as Samuel eventually did what God commanded, we need to do what God commands of us.
I pray we listen for God to guide us. I pray we choose to obey God’s commands. I pray each one of us acknowledge the fear we have, turn it over to God, and choose to do the right thing. Listen for God. Obey God’s commands. Acknowledge your fear. Give your fear to God. Do the right thing.
1 Samuel 16:1-2a The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.”
Marty Pressey 