February 24...

Deuteronomy 17:14-20; I Samuel 8

The Grass Is Always Greener

Ever heard that saying “The Grass Is Always Greener on the Other Side”? It sometimes seems that other people have it easier or better when we are looking at them from the outside. And so it was with Israel.

Israel asked for a king. Was this a surprise? It shouldn’t have been. God told them that after they took possession of the land and settled in it, they would want a king like all the nations around them – and he told them what to do when they found themselves asking for a king. He told them to appoint a king that He would choose. He gave them guidelines for their king. The problem was that they didn’t want a king like God had described – they wanted a king “like the other nations”. They wanted a king like one the world would choose.

Samuel was angry because he knew that they had the most incredible king, God, and that they were rejecting Him as their king. God was unhappy because once again the Israelites would not listen to Him and obey Him. So God told Samuel to explain the consequences of their decision which included all kinds of sacrifice and hardship on their part, but the biggie was that they would “cry out for relief from the king they had chosen, and the LORD would not answer”.

You would think that that would be enough to make them take a breath and think about what they were asking for – but no. The Israelites heard all of this and still responded, “No. We want a king over us. Then we will be like the other nations.”

Kind of sounds like a spoiled child right? And God gave an incredible example of “tough love”. He said, “Fine. Give them what they want.” How it had to hurt His heart! How it had to make Samuel frustrated! But they gave them over to what they wanted …. which is scary when our desires don’t match the desires of God.

Today, you face the same decision that the Israelites did. Who (or what) do you want as your king (master)?

Are you looking at others thinking that their life is better than yours?
Are you willing to give up your incredible King for a worldly king?
Do your desires match God’s desires?
Be careful, the day may come with God says, “Give him what he wants.” And what follows is never good.


This was adapted from Ray Vander Laan’s study “Give Us A King” (www.followtherabbi.com)