One of the saddest stories in the Bible concerns Saul,
the first king of Israel. Samuel, the spiritual leader and prophet for the
nation, instructed Saul to wait until he arrived at a battle scene before
engaging the enemy. Samuel was delayed for what seemed an inordinate amount of
time. Saul became impatient and anxious.
Unable to
endure the waiting, Saul disobeyed Samuel and God’s rules. He took upon himself
the role of priest and offered a burnt and fellowship offering. You might ask,
“So what’s the big deal?” From God’s viewpoint, it was deliberate disobedience and
demonstrated disregard for God’s order.
Saul
failed to exhibit endurance and wait patiently for God’s timing. Endurance
enables a person to withstand the temptation to act impulsively. Endurance portrays
the presence of mind and spirit to stand firm even under severe emotional
strain. Self-respect, courage and integrity enable a person to trust God enough
to follow his plan.
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