“Come, let us go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.” (1 Samuel 9:5) The servant had another idea though. He convinced Saul to rather go into town and consult a man of God: “Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.” (1 Samuel 9:6) By this time you can imagine that they were running out of food having been on the road for three days. They also were running out of cash with which to pay for the consultation with the prophet.
Interestingly, and strangely for that matter, they were planning to go and consult with the man of God not for spiritual things, but to enquire where the donkeys could be found. Wrong use of a man of God you would say; but then the prophets of the day were supposed to be people who could see into the future, who could predict events – good or bad alike. It therefore seemed like a good idea to stop the running around to put an end to this never-ending search, by having the man of God tell them where exactly to look.
And so, they directed their steps to the town were the man of God lived. On their way, they met with some young ladies who were going to draw water from the well and asked for directions. The seer, they said, was ahead of them as they entered the town. They added that he had just come to town for a ceremony involving some sacrifice “in the high place.” He was bound to be there they continued, because he must bless the sacrifice. As Saul and his servant continued on their way to town, they met with the man of God, Samuel, who was “coming toward them on his way to the high place.” (1 Samuel 9:14)
God had by then revealed to Samuel: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me.” (1 Samuel 9:16) As their paths crossed, and just before Saul enquired from this man about where to find the seer, the man of God, Samuel had received word from God: “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.” (1 Samuel 9:17)
And so Samuel was going to fit the prescription; “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” To which he answered, “I am the seer.”
‘God works in a mysterious way His wonders to perform,’ penned the hymn writer. That is exactly what we observe. Saul was going to run into the prophet Samuel by design. The entire path he had trod had led him to the prophet. Our God is not a God of coincidence; He is a purpose-filled God, who knows the end from the beginning. Saul was going to literally walk into the prophet’s ‘net’, whilst looking for his father’s donkeys.
Saul becomes Samuel’s guest at the festivities; he is seated in a place of honour and gets the choicest portion of the food served.
All this seemed too much for Saul. When the prophet remarked; “And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father’s family?” (verse 20) Saul looks down on himself and responds, “Is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?” (1 Samuel 9:21)
God will put us in a place of honour irrespective of our backgrounds or origins. The truth is, it is not about us; it is God working His purpose out for our lives. God can use anyone of anything. Time to stop devaluing ourselves.