If We Only Had a King!
As I write this, we are driving through Kentucky on our way to a couple of meetings in Ohio. We’ve been on the road since 6:00 this morning, but honestly, it doesn’t feel like it. Traveling in a motorhome is so much better than traveling in a car. There’s more room. The ride is smoother. There are unlimited bathroom breaks and snack times. And even better, there are many seats to choose from, including the bed (which is where I thought about starting the trip since my body was protesting getting up at 5:00.).
I have to admit, on this rare occasion, I was right. Yep, I can’t count the number of times I said, “If we had a motorhome, deputation would be a lot easier,” and as it turned out, it’s true. The riding is more comfortable. The sleeping arrangements are better. The food is healthier. All the way around, deputation is less stressful and much more manageable. But, I’ll be the first to admit that such is not always the case. How many times have I thought things would be better if I had this or that only to discover that things were just as bad if not worse after receiving the thing I felt would be life-changing? More times than I care to count.
The children of Israel had the same problem. In I Samuel 8, they demanded a king. All the other nations had one, so they wanted one too. According to them, a king was what they lacked all along—the very thing they needed to make their lives complete.
“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”
Never mind that God had taken care of them, fought their battles, and so much more. They wanted a king and felt having one would improve their lives, but that’s not what happened. A few chapters later, the Philistines (the biggest, baddest army of the day) attacked Israel. The Israelites had their new king, Saul, to lead them, but did it help? I’ll let the Scripture answer that.
“And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.”
Hiding. Trembling. In a strait. Hmm, that doesn’t sound better to me. In fact, it seems just as bad, if not worse. Having a king didn’t deter the enemy. Having a king didn’t give them more courage or skill. Having a king to lead them didn’t make the road any easier to tread. The situation was terrible. . .with or without a king.
Oh, friends, like the Israelites, it’s so easy to think life would be better or easier if only… But, we must guard against those “if only’s” because the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. And when it is, it’s only because there’s more fertilizer! Having a bigger house or nicer car isn’t the answer. A more impressive resume is not the key to happiness. Had Israel stayed in God’s will and trusted in His saving power, they would not have found themselves in such a predicament. Life wouldn’t have necessarily been easy, but God would have provided for them just as He’ll do for us if we’ll only trust Him and be content with what we have.