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April 10th
1 Samuel chapters 9-12 is our Bible reading today.
“Give us seven days to reach out to the territories of Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you (and you can gouge out one of our eyes).”
Nahash, the Ammonite king, besieged Jabesh Gilead. A city in the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh. Nahash proposed a treaty with one condition...” you’ll be our servants and we will gouge out one of your eyes”. In other words..”You can all die, or be our “one-eyed” slaves.”
Well, that sounds pretty intimidating...and just like a bully picking on the little brother.
So the Gil’ le a dites parlayed an extension. They would see if their big brothers, on the other side of the Jordan, would come to their rescue. But as we read, it sounds like they weren't all that confident that their kin would come through.
To me, that’s sad...in at least a couple of ways. First, “family” is to take care of family. Brothers and sisters must be committed to helping each other...even unto their own hurt...their own sacrifice.
That’s what we saw in our reading of the story of Ruth. She and her mother in law had lost it all...their husbands, their farm, their home, and pretty much their hope. Until they went back to Naomi’s hometown. The family members there reached out to help. Overnight, Naomi and Ruth had a home. They had a family that helped them and God used that to give them hope and gladness in their hearts once more.
Apparently, over the years, Manasseh and his brothers grew apart. Now the Gileadites are wondering if they’re on their own. “If...there is no one to help us, we will give ourselves to you.”
To me, it is sad for a second reason. The Gileadites...afraid for their lives and their families’ lives...did everything they could to save themselves...except “cry out to God”.
I could point a finger of “shame on you”...” you knew better”...but I've been guilty of the same. I too have exhausted my every idea and my every effort to save myself and my loved ones...in times of crisis...only to fail again.
But God has done for me what He did for Manasseh’s children. God gave them what they didn't deserve...“His merciful provision”... His deliverance...one more time.
And how did God deliver them when their brothers were afraid of their shadows...without courage...and without a vision of their God in all of His glory and power? God used His prophet, Samuel, to choose and anoint a leader, a king for Israel...Saul the Benjaminite.
Young Saul was tall and strong. Impressive yet humble...God chose him...The Spirit of God came upon him...and God gave him a new heart...and said: “There is none like him in the land.”
This young man, full of faith and courage called the nation to fight with him to save their brother in Jabesh Gilead. And they did just that. Outnumbered they fought for their family...for the glory of God...and God gave them victory.
God’s victory for Israel was a great way for Samuel to go out. He had been a prophet and judge for 40 years. Now he was going the way of his fathers. His farewell speech was inspiring...the Gospel...of grace and mercy.
I believe you’ll enjoy it. It’s the rest of the story.
Have a great day
