Testing Your Alliances & Avoiding Snakes | 1 Samuel 11:1-4

Don't be deceived by slippery alliances.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in 1 Samuel 11. I've titled this chapter "The First Test of Saul’s Leadership."

I am going to be reading verses 1-4 today, which state:

Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud. — 1 Samuel 11:1-4

There are three interesting details in the opening of this chapter. First, it is important to note that Jabesh-gilead is on the eastern side of the Jordan. It was the stretch of land from the river looking toward the desert. There were two and a half tribes that had their homes on the eastern side. They were vulnerable to enemies from the east, like the Ammonites, because of the separation by the river. Second, even though the Ammonites have already gained control of Jabesh-gilead they engage them in a proposal. The agreement was to take control peacefully but at the cost of the right eye of all the people. Removing the dominant eye would be an identifier and weaken any future revolt. Third, Nahash agrees to a seven-day interlude, and we are not told why. This was probably because he knew these people were more than a single city and tribe, and he did not want to risk awakening the sleeping giant of Israel, which he did.

As this story develops, we discover two lessons that are especially applicable to believers. First, we should be guarded and cautious about engaging in relationships, doing business, or entering into agreements with a person or group who does not share our values and beliefs, especially if we suspect they intend to harm us. Second, we have a spiritual obligation and priority to engage in relationships, do business, and enter into agreements with other believers who need our support and services.

We can all agree that there is a spiritual enemy who opposes the work and the people of the Lord. This enemy seeks to divide, weaken, and conquer believers like Nahash did here. In fact, the Hebrew word Nahash means "snake," which is the same Hebrew word used for the serpent in Genesis 3:1-24. One way to avoid being deceived by a snake is to avoid relationships with them and be in relationship, do business, and enter into agreements with brothers and sisters in the faith.

There was a time in my life when I was more open to engagements with people who were not Christians and with whom I did not share biblical values. But after you have been burned a few times by slimy friends, slippery deals, and bitten by deceptive agreements, you learn that it's better to be burned by a believer who might turn back to fear God than one who will have you enter into an agreement only to pluck out your eye, subject you to slavery, cut your off from your family forever.

What's ironic about this exhortation is there are Christians out there today who will contest this. There are young men and women dating people who are not believers, who believe that one day they will persuade the other person and then enter into a permanent marital covenant based on the hope of conversion because they feel compatible with the person on the other end. There are business owners who engage in agreements with vendors and suppliers who do not share biblical values in hopes of influencing them for the kingdom, only to wake up one day and realize that they have compromised their biblical values to maintain the momentum, money, and market value of their product and services. There are employees who work in companies whose corporate values do not match with biblical values, while these companies and corporations oppress believers and force them to celebrate sin that the bible opposes.

Do you see how slimy and slippery the work of the serpent is?

Today, thoroughly assess your relationships, agreements, and deals. Prioritize building biblical relationships and engaging in partnerships with like-minded individuals. In a world of uncertainty, we must come together, support, and rely on each other. Our collective strength is powerful if we prioritize supporting the efforts of fellow believers.

#SpiritualDiscernment, #BiblicalLeadership, #GuardYourHeart

Ask This:
How can you evaluate the integrity of your current relationships and agreements to ensure they align with your biblical values? What steps can you take to address any misalignments?

In what areas of your life are you currently facing pressures or temptations to compromise your faith for the sake of convenience or gain? How can you strengthen your resolve to remain steadfast in your commitments to God and fellow believers?
Do This:
Assess your alliances. Rethink and adjust as necessary.

Pray This:
Father, grant me the wisdom to discern and the courage to act according to Your will in all my relationships and agreements. Help me to build strong, faith-centered connections and to avoid any dealings that might compromise my commitment to You. Amen.

Play This:
Stay Strong.