Nougat 16

Blessings to the men in the house!

Special mention to the spiritual fathers, the male mentors, and dads who’ve provided examples for us all to pattern. Making a child is relatively easy for most males; but opting to commit, to be a provider, model and parent takes dedication and patience. Thanks for doing what you do.

Please receive Today’s Holy Nougat

“Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

No Justifying Our Actions

The deed was done. It was as though Samuel waited until Saul was done to appear. And that may have been the case. For, the delay seems to have been a test, and unfortunately, despite his best intentions, Saul failed.

Miserably

Note what happens when Samuel got on the scene. Rather than give a suitable greeting to Saul, Samuel had one very damning question:

What is this you have done?

Folks, dear siblings, I have been on the receiving end of such words a few times as a child. Usually, it meant I was on the brink of some serious consequences subsequent to my decisions. And yes, I was expected to justify my actions. It was extremely rare that the end justified the means. Moreover, Samuel’s arrival feels like that Genesis 3 moment when God arrived for the regular chat with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Unlike Saul, they recognized their nakedness (sinful state), and tried to cover up.

I really don’t know which is worse – trying to cover the visible evidence of our impatience and sin, or trying to justify why we sinned. Because both situations are displeasing to God, and smack of being self-serving. Not having a clue that we’ve sinned by virtue of our impatience suggests that we’re not attuned to God’s ways and purposes. There is no way Saul could justify his decision to take the priest’s role when clearly instructed to wait.

The psalmist reminds us: ‘Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart. Wait … on the Lord.’ Even when waiting is weighty, wait on God’s timing. Despite the troops being reduced to 600 men, and the prophet’s late arrival, and the morale being almost zero, Saul’s instruction was ‘wait’. Plain and simple. In the subsequent chapter, we see the Lord effecting victory with 2 people! Yes, 2 people. It means that Saul, Jonathan and 600 men were 600 too many! That’s why Saul should have waited. That one act cost him almost everything he valued – victory and the kingdom’s succession.

When we fail to trust God’s plan and purpose by leaning on our own understanding, could we also be denying ourselves direct blessings from God? Is there a legitimate justification for our foolish decision to go ahead of God’s timing?

Remember, to rush the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly results in early death for both. Simply because the metamorphosis isn’t completed effectively and the butterfly is unable to function without having gained strength in its wings. Waiting, therefore, may be our opportunity to strengthen our Patience muscles, so we can be transformed by our renewed minds.

Siblings, let’s not get discouraged by the weight of our waiting. In due time God will strengthen us. Hold strain. Pray. Encourage ourselves. Wait on God.

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May all we seek be found in Christ