Today I was reading in 1 Samuel 8 and was struck by the thought, “Do we really want what we wish for?” As a little summary of this chapter, Samuel was in charge of the Israelites at this time and he put his sons into the position of judges. They were corrupt and the people revolted. The Israelites came to Samuel and asked for a king. Samuel immediately felt the rejection of the people and he took his feelings to God. The Lord said, “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.” It’s humbling to imagine how God must have felt. He had delivered the Israelites from slavery with incredible miracles. Miracle after miracle and yet they still turned and worshiped idols. It’s easy for me to be hard on them. I imagine that if I were in their shoes that I would never turn from God. However, I know that there are times in my life when I shun the miracles of God, shake my fist and demand things my way.
Samuel warned the people that the king would take their sons and daughters and make them his servants, take their crops and livestock and their finances. He said, “When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
But the people refused to listen and said, “No, we want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” And the Lord’s response? “Give them a king.”
Be careful what you wish for. Sometimes the Lord might just give it to you. Sometimes the only way we learn is through our difficult times. I’m definitely not of the belief that every hard time we go through is the Lord disciplining us. However, sometimes we really need no enemies in our life. We do enough damage ourselves. Our choices often bring very unpleasant consequences. This makes me pause and really reflect and ask myself, “Do I really want what I’m asking for?” I think a better position to be is…”Lord, what is your will?” For His way is perfect.
