I sit here in my quiet time reading the story of Kind Saul and his downfall (1 Samuel 15:1-16:23). Saul, through Samuel the prophet, was given instructions to destroy the entire Amalekite nation - all people, cattle, sheep, goats, etc... Saul mobilized his army. All the people were slaughtered - except Agag, the Amalekite king. And all animals were destroyed - except the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.
"Then the Lord said to Samuel, 'I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.' " (vs. 10 -11)
After being confronted by Samuel, Saul tried to say that those animals were only kept so that they could be sacrificed to the Lord. But God rejected Saul as king that day. It wasn't what the Lord had asked for. I love Samuel's thoughts on this in verse 22:
"What is more pleasing to the Lord, your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen!
Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."
I truly wonder how much I am like Saul... I am probably a lot more like him than I would like to think. How often does the Lord say to 'go here' or 'do this' or 'say this', and I only meet him half way? God does not ask me or you to do more than we are able. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." If he calls us to do something, he will see us through it. I don't need to alter his plans. Taking things into my own hands is never a good idea.
Going outside of God's will, I am only in the enemy's playground.
