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A lesson profound, in seeking the Lord Divine,
For in God’s embrace, the brightest stars align,
Matthew 5:16, let your light so shine,
Let God prepare a table for you to dine.

From the hills of lost donkeys to a regal throne,
Proverbs 16:9, in God’s hands, our steps are known,
In life’s journey, God’s grace is shown,
Jeremiah 29:11, His plans, a destiny sown.

Saul, once lost in the donkeys’ chase,
Encountered destiny, face to face,
He got what he lost and more to embrace,
More than the best for you is God’s interest.

So, in the hills of challenges where echoes ring,
Seek God’s guidance; let your heart joyfully sing,
A poem of destiny, with voices bright,
In the steps of life, find your celestial light.

1 Samuel 9:3-6 (NKJV) – “³ Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” ⁴ So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. ⁵ When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us.” ⁶ And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”

“Saul was the son of a powerful and wealthy chief, yet in accordance with the simplicity of the times he was engaged with his father in the humble duties of a husbandman. Some of his father’s animals having strayed upon the mountains, Saul went with a servant to seek for them. For three days they searched in vain, when, as they were not far from Ramah, the home of Samuel, the servant proposed that they should inquire of the prophet concerning the missing property. “I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver,” he said: “that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.” This was in accordance with the custom of the times. A person approaching a superior in rank or office made him a small present, as an expression of respect.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 608.3, Ellen G. White.

Kish had lost his donkeys and sent Saul to search for them. He did not send him alone; he sent him with one of his servants, as two are better than one. They looked for them through the mountains of Ephraim, the land of Shaalim, and the land of the Benjamites and still did not find them. Despite looking in all those different places, their search brought no results. They had reached the end of the road. They had looked everywhere where they thought the donkeys might have been but did not see them anywhere. Their final attempt was to seek help from a man of God.

Seeking help from a man of God was seeking help from God since the man of God depended on the power that came from God to prophesy and help the people with their needs. It is quite unfortunate that most of us seek God at the end when our human effort has failed us instead of seeking God at the beginning. Things would be much easier for us if we sought God at the beginning before doing anything. If they had sought the prophet before searching for the donkeys, they would not need to have gone to all those places searching for them.

The disciples of Jesus spent the whole day fishing, got tired, and were still unable to catch fish. When they involved Jesus in their activity, they caught so much that could not fit in the net (John 21:1-11). Hard work without God will bring little to no results. Diligence, together with God, brings outstanding results.

Psalm 127:1-2 (KJV) – “¹ Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. ² It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep.”

Some people may wonder how they will work for six days while resting on Sabbath and achieve results like those who work for seven days. God is responsible for the results, not our human effort. Jesus performed more miracles on the Sabbath than on any other day. That is why He said in Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV) – “²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The rest that God gives you will result to increase of your produce. Saul and his servant worked so hard to find the donkeys so that they may find rest after they had accomplished that objective. Their hard work did not give them rest because true rest is found in the Lord. It was after approaching the man of God that they found rest.

1 Samuel 9:15-20 (NKJV) – “¹⁵ Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, ¹⁶ “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.” ¹⁷ So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, “There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.” ¹⁸ Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate and said, “Please tell me, where is the seer’s house?” ¹⁹ Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. ²⁰ But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?”

Saul and his servant worked hard to look for the donkeys without giving up. They did not give up. That is why they decided to seek help from a man of God. Therefore, they went to look for Samuel, the prophet. God had told Samuel about Saul the day before. When Samuel set his eyes on Saul, God told him it was the man He had chosen to be the king of the Israelites. God had allowed Saul to face the difficulty of finding the donkeys, knowing He had prepared a wonderful blessing ahead.

We should never give up, for there is something good God has set for us when we feel we have reached the end of the road. God wanted to make Saul king, but Saul did not know. He considered it impossible since he was from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and his family was the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:21).

Saul was frustrated when he failed to find the donkeys. When God allows you to face certain situations or when He seems to have delayed, He has better things for you in store than those you had previously expected. His only desire was to find his father’s donkeys. This story reminds us of Joseph, who was thrown in prison when he was in Egypt. While in prison, his only desire was to be released from prison. God made him Prime Minister of Egypt, the highest position in the land; only Pharaoh was higher.

1 Samuel 10:1-2 (NKJV) – “¹ Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: “Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance? ² When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found.”

Samuel anointed Saul as king and told him where to find his donkeys. Ephesians 3:20 (KJV) – “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” God will always give you better than what you previously wanted. Some people have tarmacked for years in such for employment, but God ends up giving them high-paying jobs or, better, a flourishing business. Joel 2:25 (KJV) – “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” Samuel told Saul where his father’s donkeys were, and he anointed him as king to rule the people of Israel.

1 Samuel 10:9-10 (NKJV) – “⁹ So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. ¹⁰ When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.”

“As Saul united with the prophets in their worship, a great change was wrought in him by the Holy Spirit. The light of divine purity and holiness shone in upon the darkness of the natural heart. He saw himself as he was before God. He saw the beauty of holiness. He was now called to begin the warfare against sin and Satan, and he was made to feel that in this conflict his strength must come wholly from God. The plan of salvation, which had before seemed dim and uncertain, was opened to his understanding. The Lord endowed him with courage and wisdom for his high station. He revealed to him the Source of strength and grace, and enlightened his understanding as to the divine claims and his own duty.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 610.3, Ellen G. White.

In addition to anointing him as king, God filled Saul with the Holy Spirit that he began to prophesy. People had not known him as a prophet; they knew him as Saul, the son of Kish. People marveled at his gift of prophecy. It is not recorded in the Bible that he had asked God for that gift. God gifted him freely, as he blessed him with the privilege of ruling over the Israelites.

1 Samuel 10:17-25 (NKJV) – “¹⁷ Then Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah, ¹⁸ and said to the children of Israel, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all kingdoms and from those who oppressed you.’ ¹⁹ But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.” ²⁰ And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. ²¹ When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they sought him, he could not be found. ²² Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord answered, “There he is, hidden among the equipment.” ²³ So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. ²⁴ And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!” ²⁵ Then Samuel explained to the people the behavior of royalty, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.”

Saul was proclaimed king by Samuel in the sight of the Israelites. All those who loved him and all those who despised him witnessed him being crowned king. Psalm 23:5 (KJV) – “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” God prepared a table for Saul in the presence of his enemies and friends. Saul got his anointing as king while humbly undertaking home duties, helping his father find his donkeys.

Children should not neglect home duties, for they carry lots of blessings. Jacob was also blessed while conducting house chores. You might be on the verge of giving up. You might have tried your best to the point that you feel that there is nothing left to do. God has prepared something better for you beyond your wildest imagination. Don’t give up.

Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV) – “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

GOD BLESS YOU!

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, like Saul, we seek Your guidance in our endeavors. Forgive us for relying solely on our strength. Teach us to seek You at the beginning and trust in Your plans. When challenges arise, please help us to never give up but to press on in faith. Thank you for the assurance that when we seek You with all our hearts, we will find You. Guide us, and let Your Holy Spirit be our constant companion. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Activity
1. Take a moment to reflect on a situation in your life where your efforts alone have not produced the desired results. Just as Saul sought the man of God, consider seeking guidance through prayer.
2. Write down your life’s challenges and bring them before God, asking for His wisdom and direction.
3. Additionally, find a quiet place to spend some time in prayer and meditation. Reflect on the areas in your life where you may not have sought God’s guidance. Ask for His forgiveness and commit to involving Him in all your endeavors.
4. As you seek God’s guidance, be open to His leading and trust that His plans for you are better than anything you could imagine. Remember the promise in Jeremiah 29:13 that when you seek God with all your heart, you will find Him.

Author: Mark Alex   

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