The story’s conclusion of the two fictional characters, Daisy and Anna, who as servant leaders must resolve a situational problem.
“Because you would not wait for my decision, my chosen one, I heeded to your voice.” –
This is the theme of I Samuel chapter 7 and the premise of my storytelling. Permit me to tell you of a conversation between two fictional best friends, Daisy and Anna. Daisy answers a question proposed by Anna. Here them out.
My best friend’s name is Anna. Anna and I are not childhood friends; rather, we met at work. As administrative leaders, situations brought us together. Our moral values were remarkably similar; however, culturally, we had different experiences. This made us appreciative of each other.
Anna called today, distraught about a personal, professional issue. There were times that I did not take certain matters as problematic as Anna. This was NOT one of those instances. It was serious enough to Anna that I had to give it much thought. Anna wanted a quick solution to a complex problem. However, not all things can be made with “bisquic.” As I hung up the phone, I promised her that I would get back to her soon.
Anna served part-time on the City Council Legislative Board. The Council had moved to change the position to a full-time one, which was not what Anna had signed up for. At the end of the year, she would be replaced by the winning candidate. Anna was approached by two of the officials to back their decision to promote an opinion that the position should be held by a qualifying person of Irish descent. Anna was quite taken back at their request but assured them that she would get back with them after careful consideration.
This, of course, was the reason for this upsetting call. How could these officials who seemed to be fair-minded people request that type of support from her!
Although it was upsetting, Anna wanted to address the issue in a public format to ensure transparency. “What should she do?” she asked me. I was appalled as well but understood her dilemma. “Let me think it over, Anna, and get back with you.”
The officials made it quite clear that this sub-population had often voted as a majority – as a unified block. Rewarding them with a person of Irish descent was a way of showing gratitude and securing this unified block.
My thoughts were that of a similar situation. I thought about the story in the bible of a people who asked for a king and God allowed them to have what they asked for.
“Because you would not wait for my decision, my chosen one, I heeded to your voice.”
God is quite familiar with people who do not wait and listen to Him. 1 Samuel 8 tells the story of the people of Israel who demanded a king to rule over them. They desired to be like other nations around them. The nation of Israel was chosen by God and God wanted them to see Him as the only true God. He would rule over them. God had given them Samuel, the prophet, to speak the word of God to them. God saw the heart of the people had turned away from Him:
Point 1 – They forgot the Lord what He had done.
Point 2 – They desired to be like other nations; they wanted a king for themselves.
Point 3 – Can you not trust that the Lord will call His anointed? They would not trust that the Lord will call His anointed.
From ancient times until the very present, God’s people have been swayed by personal wants over what God desires. It is a costly thing to do. It creates pathways of destruction when you fail to listen and wait for God’s anointed. It causes people to adhere to demands of rulers who are not of God. The people will have a Shiloh experience. It was at Shiloh that God abandoned and allowed the enemy to be victorious over His people (I Samuel 2:14-17) and Jeremiah 7.
When the glory of God has departed, it becomes a place of Ichabod (I Samuel 4:21). People of God, should not desire such a thing.
When the people repented, God allowed them to have an Ebenezer experience. He is our stone of help. “Then Samuel took a stone and set up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying “Thus far the Lord has helped us,” 1 Samuel 7:12.”
It was result of their repentance brought about the return of cities that had been taken from Israel by the Philistines; there was restoration; there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. But no, the people returned to their old, perverted ways; they turned away from God. When the priest Eli and his sons did not honor God (1 Samuel 8:1-4), God had prepared Samuel for the people. Samuel, mentored by Eli, walked in the way of the Lord; he did not pervert justice as the previous priests; Samuel sought the Lord on their behalf; yet he was not enough to them. Instead of listening to God, the elders went to Samuel and asked to be like other nations; instead of God as their judge, they desired a king. Samuel prayed to the Lord for an answer to the dilemma. The Lord told Samuel to heed to the wishes of the people for they are not rejecting Samuel, but are rejecting the Lord’s rule over them. I brought them out from Egypt; I have done great works for them, yet they reject me and go after other gods. Warn them, Samuel, of what the behavior of the king will be who reign over them. And so Samuel did.
Subscribe to Comment