SCRIPTURE:
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
1 Samuel 15:2-3
OBSERVATION:
Saul was given a direct order – Destroy EVERYTHING. Leave nothing alive. He did so, but we find this in verses 7-9:
“Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt. He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs – everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.” – 1 Samuel 15:7-9
Partial obedience is still disobedience.
The Lord was full of regret over Saul. Samuel was angry and cried out.
Saul, well Saul was rather proud of himself and set up a monument in his honor (1 Samuel 15:12) feeling that he did as he was told. When he sees Samuel he announces that he carried out The Lord’s instructions, to which Samuel responds:
“But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” – 1 Samuel 15:14
APPLICATION:
As a younger manager, I had a group of employees that I oversaw. One of the things we were asked to do was make reminder calls to specific groups of people during a specific time period. In some cases there would be several hundred people to call. These calls coincided with a window of time where they could claim certain benefits. When that window closed, they would be ineligible to do so and would lose out.
One of the young men that worked for me had the dreaded “But I Thought” syndrome. Instead of asking questions, he would run rogue and did what he thought was best. As the end of the window period drew near I had given everyone groups of people to call and remind. At our next meeting I checked in with everyone on updates as the deadline date had just passed.
One by one I was given reports on who was called and results of the calls. When I got to him, he said “I waited to call after the date you gave me. I was going to call when you said, but I thought it would be better to do it later, because some people don’t answer their phone on certain days.”
I sat stunned. I asked, “Say that again?”
He said “Well, I was going to call earlier but I thought – “
I cut him off mid-sentence and responded “You realize that about 100 people have missed out on receiving benefits because you thought it was better to wait. The deadline already passed and they missed out all because you thought you knew better.”
When we are given a direct order from an authority or The Lord, one of the biggest mistakes we can make is to disobey thinking that we know what’s best. As Saul didn’t listen because he thought he knew better, I wonder how many times I may have missed out on The Lord’s blessings because I decided to do what I thought was best.
When God speaks, I must listen and obey.
PRAYER:
Father Almighty. Forgive me Lord for times when I have heard You, but have decided to do otherwise thinking that I knew better. Thank You Lord that You are still moving in my life and speaking. When You speak Lord would I listen and obey, this I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
