For generations the children of Israel had been ruled by judges…representatives of God before the people. But the time had come when the people no longer wanted to be under their rule. They wanted a king. They wanted to be like the other nations – the neighboring pagan kingdoms. God heard their request but warned them that what they asked for was not as grand as they thought. Through the prophet Samuel, He warned them that the king would demand the best of all their spoils. He would demand their sons to serve in the army. He would demand the best of their animals and harvests and they would be his subjects—his slaves. But despite the warning, the people still demanded a king because they wanted to “be like the nations around [them].” But what we don’t read in this passage is that God’s warning came true, and the peoples’ decision to have a king caused problems for many generations to come. We need to be careful what we ask God for. God knows best and won’t lead us astray. Sometimes we can want something so badly that we fail to heed the warning signs that are right in front of our face. Sometimes God will allow us to make bad decisions, in spite of the warning signs He has put in front of us. We, too, might regret our decision if we fail to heed His warning.
Prayer: God, help me to be in tune to the warnings you place in my life. Help me not to ignore your warnings when I am faced with a decision that could lead me astray. When I am tempted to do things that will make me like “the crowd,” help me to realize that I should desire to be like You! Help me to determine what your desire for my life is.
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