Learning to Trust God with What I Have and Do Not Have

Why did they want a King?

Was it because they wanted what everyone else had?

Was it because they felt too unprotected?

Did they just want an army?

Did they want an extra layer of protection just in case God couldn't protect them?

Were they feeling too vulnerable?

Did they just want a scapegoat...someone who they could blame instead of themselves if things went wrong?

This week, it was Willie who drew us into 1 Samuel 8 at my church and had us all pondering this question: Why did they want a king?

Israel never had a king.  They were led by Moses out of Egypt.  Then by Joshua into the Promised Land.  Then a series of Judges rose to fill the need of leadership as Israel went up and down and around in their faithfulness.  Finally these leaders all passed away and the people came to Samuel, a well recognized prophet, and requested a king.

But why?  Why now?  Why a king?

¹⁹ But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. ²⁰ 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.”  I Samuel 8:19-20

1.  To be like everyone else

2.  To be led by an established, tangible figure

3.  To have someone to fight their battles

Looks like good reasons to me!  I want a king too.  I want someone to lead me.  I want someone to fight my battles for me...or at least with me.  And I want to have that same protection that everyone else has.  (Or at least an emergency fund to fall on if life takes an unexpected turn.)

What I don't want is to be left vulnerable.  Unprotected.  I don't want to be left in a place where I have to truly trust God.  Or rely on others.  The Israelites knew what those stories feel like and while they are great stories, they aren't something you want to relive.  The meager 300 men that Gideon fought the Midianites with!  Blowing trumpets and seeing Jericho's walls fall without using your sword once!  Escaping from the Egyptian army by the skin of your teeth via a parting sea!  Those are fun stories but COME ON, would it not be best for us to beef up our army just in case...???

Just in case, God doesn't show up this time around.

Today, I am learning to trust God.  I'm always learning and re-learning it.  That sometimes the best place is one where I am left vulnerable and unprotected.  I have to learn to trust him with all that I have and all that I don't have.  Often I want to trust him with what I don't have but keep what I have to myself.  Or I want to trust him with what I have but go out and get more for myself. 

What I need more of is simply trust. 

Israel didn't need a king.  They needed to trust God with what they both had and did not have.  It left them feeling vulnerable and unprotected.  But it also left them dependent on the only one who can really come through at the end of the day.

What do you want today?