The Internal Battle With Impatient Insecurities | 1 Samuel 13:8-11

Have you ever been embarrassed by an impatient and insecure action?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in 1 Samuel 13. I've titled this chapter "Partial Obedience Is Complete Disobedience."

In Chapter 13, the Philistines test Saul and the nation. Enemy combatants are close at hand, and the people are gathered at Gilgal, but the Philistines greatly outnumber them. Next, we read verses 8-11:

He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. Samuel said, “What have you done?” — 1 Samuel 13:8-11

Basically, Samuel does something similar to what Jesus did a couple of times in the Gospels and shows up late to the party. This long delay triggers Saul because, by this time, he is losing the people, and they are scattering. So, Saul feels he needs to do something to hold the nation and troops together until Samuel arrives and, in doing so, offers a sacrifice he should not have offered.

Now, I am going to confess that I would have been tempted to act like Saul does here. There are situations I handle exceedingly well and those that I don't. I could see this particular situation being a test for me, especially if I were a young leader who felt the pressure to perform before the nation, knowing I was losing the people and I was waiting for a very old man to arrive on the scene.

But this is no justification for my rationalizations or Saul's actions in this text.

Saul acted in disobedience and did something he should not have done; thus, his partial obedience was still complete disobedience.

In my lifetime, I have found that the battle for obedience is fought entirely within my heart. Yet this battle is elicited by the pressures of situations and people in this life. When the situations and people before me become complex and complicated, and I don't feel I can see a way out, insecurities and impatience tempt me to behave based on my volition rather than trust in faith in God.

Today, fight your battle valiantly. Look at every battle twice. Discern the battle before you and the war raging within you. Don't temporarily win one only to lose the other and, in the end, lose them both, thus facing the embarrassment of the question—"What have you done?"

#ObedienceMatters, #TrustInGod, #FaithOverFear

Ask This:
In what areas of your life do you find yourself rationalizing disobedience, and how can you practice complete trust in God instead?
How do the pressures of your current circumstances reveal the state of your heart, and what steps can you take to align your actions with faith rather than fear?
Do This:
See you battle twice and fight valiantly.

Pray This:
Lord, help me to trust in Your timing and guidance, even when I feel pressured to act on my own. Strengthen my heart to obey You completely, resisting the urge to take matters into my own hands. Amen.

Play This:
You've Already Won.