God Provides
Read: 1 Samuel 8:1-22
It is possible to be faithful in ministry and yet end your life in disappointment. That is what happened to Samuel. His sons disappointed him.They were not able to carry on their father's ministry because they did not follow their father's godly example.Eli's sons yielded to the lusts of the flesh (1 Samuel 2:12-17), while Samuel's sons were lovers of money. They judged Israel, without being just in their life. They took bribes and turned justice upside down.
Samuel was disappointed in the nation, for they wanted a king. They used Samuel's sons as their excuse, but the real reason was their lack of faith in God. They wanted to be like the other nations with kings. Samuel's warnings about what the king would do made no no impression on the people. Note the repetition of the phrase "he will take". When God rules the people, He will supply or meet the needs of the people. But when a king rules the people, they have to meet all his needs as well as whims. All that Samuel worked for and prayed for seemed to have turned out differently.
If only they could have waited for 10-12 years, God Himself would have given them David as their king. If only Abraham could have waited for some time, Ishmael would not have born. We have to wait in the presence of God, for the promises of God to be fulfilled. Leaders who are faithful to God may not always appear successsful to men.
Respond: Lord, teach me to wait in Your presence.
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