Stop Living Two Lives & Kill The Oxen

Do you feel torn between two different callings?

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."

To set up the moment. Saul has just been appointed king, and everyone was sent to their home. We are not sure how much time has transpired, but Nahash, an Ammonite enemy, has besieged Jabesh-Gilead. And now the word is going to get back to Saul. Here are verses 5-7:

Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. — 1 Samuel 11:5-7

There are numerous details in this text: First, the word about the capture of Jabesh-Gilead finally gets back to Saul. Second, when it does, the Spirit of God rushes back upon him for the second time. Third, Saul experiences what we call "righteous anger" because he is rightly angered at what has happened with God's people. Fourth, we learn that this all happens as Saul is farming and doing his family's job. Fifth, in his anger, Saul takes two of his oxen (a.k.a. drafting animals) and cuts them into pieces, essentially killing his career and livelihood. Draft animals were important and expensive assets in farming, and Saul used them to send a message to all the tribes of Israel. Fifth, Saul seizes this defining moment to step into his role and use it to unify the people of Israel.

In life, we all have defining moments. For Saul, this was one of those moments. While he was anointed and appointed the first king of Israel, he had yet to take hold of his kingship and become the warrior that God intended him to be. But here, the opportunity presents itself. Notice what he does. He kills his drafting oxen. He slaughtered his former way of life and used the slaughtered oxen to issue a call to all of Israel. By the way this is not the only time something like this happened in the Bible. Look up the story of Elijah and Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19-21.

In my own life, I have had moments like this.

One of these moments happened when I was 20. My grandfather was dying of cancer, and I watched him painfully die for hours in a hospital bed. In the silence of that room, listening to his gasp for air, I knew that God was calling me to do for other men what my grandfather had done for me — disciple men. That was 34 years ago. That moment was a defining moment for me. A week later, I returned to college, and I "killed the oxen." I changed my field of study from business to the bible, and I began studying the Bible like crazy in hopes of one day being able to disciple other men like my grandfather had done for me, which is what we are doing right here. Daily discipleship provided to those who want to grow in their faith.

But to live out this calling, I learned one very valuable lesson. You have to kill the oxen, burn the ships, break the chains, and cut the lifeline. There has to be a point of no return where you decide to go all in and live out the calling God has given you. You cannot live in two callings. They will always compete for your time, attention, energy, and resources.

So I have only one question for you today. What oxen do you need to kill?

#FaithfulLiving, #DivineCalling, #BiblicalLeadership

Ask This:

What "oxen" in your life are holding you back from fully embracing the calling God has placed on your heart, and how can you take steps to "kill" them and move forward?

Reflect on a defining moment in your life when you felt God's calling. How did you respond, and what changes did you make to align yourself with His purpose for you?

Do This:

Kill the oxen in your life.

Pray This:

Father, give me the courage to let go of anything that holds me back from fully embracing Your calling for my life. Help me to trust in Your plan and step forward with faith and determination. Amen.

Play This:

Burn The Ships.