Articles
The Difficulty of Waiting on God
It is likely that all of us have certain personality traits that can be either an advantage or a hindrance depending on the circumstance. Personally, I am not good at waiting. I’m not sure when or how this developed in my thinking, because there is another part of me that tends to be a procrastinator. But through the years I’ve developed an aversion to being late, letting things pile up, being caught unprepared or neglecting something important. It is likely that my vocation of preaching has had a significant bearing on this.
But a deeper question is: When should I wait on God? How do I know when to act and when to be patient and let things develop in their own time? Part of the difficulty in answering these questions is that we don’t have a detailed blueprint of our lives. If God were to say to us, “This trial you are undergoing will end on June 30, 2017,” we might be better able to endure it. But on the other hand, what if He said, “Things will never get better than they are right now”?
Saul is the quintessential example of the difficulty of waiting on God. During Samuel’s anointing address to Saul, his last words to the rising monarch were: “You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do” (1 Sam 10:8). There’s no other stated context of when or in what circumstances this meeting in Gilgal should occur.
In the meantime, Saul’s presentation to the public takes place (1 Sam 10:17-27), followed by his military victory over the Ammonites (1 Sam 11), and then his coronation (1 Sam 12). Two years of his reign pass by (1 Sam 13:1), and then Saul provokes a showdown with the Philistines (13:2-5). In response, the Philistines come against Israel with a gigantic, intimidating force: 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen and foot-soldiers “as the sand which is on the seashore.” Saul has 600 men.
Though two-plus years have elapsed, Scripture states, “Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him” (13:8). So, it appears that Saul did have enough information to tie together Samuel’s earlier instruction with the present situation.
Another factor to consider is that before Samuel issued this directive, he told Saul of three events that would transpire later that day (1 Sam 10:2-6). Samuel said, “And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you” (10:7). Then, “when he had turned his back to go from Samuel … God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day” (10:9). And further, “the Spirit of God came upon [Saul], and he prophesied among them” (10:10). In other words, Saul was given ample evidence that Jehovah was with him and would defend his kingdom come what may. He is now God’s servant in a special way; all he needed to do was trust and obey.
But back on the battlefield: “When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling” (13:6-7). Saul felt he was in dire straits, and Samuel was nowhere to be seen. Hoping to invoke the blessing of God, he disobediently offered the sacrifice himself (13:9). Remember also, on the very day he first met Samuel, the great prophet was offering a sacrifice and providing a meal in his honor, for Samuel knew he had been chosen by God as the first Israelite monarch. Did none of these prior factors shape Saul’s faith in God’s omniscience, presence and divine purposes? Apparently not.
And so, as it often happens, “As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, that Samuel came …” (13:10).
Some elements of this story are timeless. Did having specific information and instruction automatically make it easy for Saul to obey? No. It all came down to a matter of trust when the circumstances turned threatening and relying on God seemed inadequate.
In the absence of direct information, we may find it difficult to know what to do regarding a specific situation. Do I quit my job or let things play out? How long do I remain in a friendship that is difficult and stagnant? When should my patience with my child give way to intervention?
Help with such predicaments, in the absence of specific revelation, can come from different quarters. First, Scripture often provides examples and principles that put our dilemma in perspective. Second, previous life experiences may provide wisdom in our present challenge. Third, trusted and proven brethren might advise us in making a clear decision. Finally, prayer should undergird all these other options. Trust that God will hear our requests and provide us with the resources we need to make sound, godly, obedient choices is indispensable. Fear and doubt spark self-willed action that inevitably discourages obedience to God’s will.
