Read: 1 Samuel 8:7-22
The LORD said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” (v. 22)
An exasperated parent can be known for giving in. I’ve seen it as a weary mom tosses cookies into the grocery cart while her children whine at her. I’ve seen it at the zoo, a frazzled dad heading reluctantly into the gift shop. Parents give in all the time, for many reasons.
I’ve often wondered why God “gave in” to the stubborn, demanding Israelites when they wanted a king. God knew it would be a disaster, and through Samuel, had warned the Israelites how a king would take from them and in return fill their lives with difficulty. Yet, like a child fixated on what it wants, the Israelites saw only what they wanted. And they wanted a king.
Maybe God became exasperated with the Israelites when they wouldn’t stop crying for what they wanted, and finally just said yes to their demand. Does God get exasperated with us? Sadly, we sometimes fixate on what we want, ignoring God’s wisdom and provision in our lives.
We see here that God is with us in each and every situation, including those in which we are stubborn, demanding, and fixated on the wrong thing. God sees us, hears us, pays attention to us. And certainly, God longs for us to respond to his wisdom and provision, but like a loving parent, waits for us to grow up into it.
As you pray, ask for eyes to see God’s wisdom and provision in your life.
About the Author
Katy Sundararajan is a specialized minister in the Reformed Church in America. She has garnered her pastoral perspectives from posts as a college chaplain, a missionary, an international student advisor, and a higher education and leadership ministries program coordinator.
