~ I Samual 11 ~

~ Give Me Just A Little More Time ~

Have you ever asked someone to give you just a little more time? Usually we ask for more time to raise the money for a bill that is due NOW. We ask for more time to turn in as assignment that is due NOW. We even ask for more time to make a decision that should have been made yesterday. The consequences of not being granted this extra time might make our lives a little uncomfortable, but nothing as serious as losing an eye if we aren't given that extra time.

As I Samuel ll begins we find the evil King Nashash of Ammon ready to put out the right eyes of the men of Jabesh. These men asked for just a little more time. They asked for seven days to send out messengers all over Israel to save them from being slaves to this evil king and from losing their right eyes. Nahash granted them the seven days. The men did as they said they would do and sent those messengers. They didn't waste time trying to figure out a way to escape on their own. They used the time they had been granted wisely. We after being granted time to raise money for that overdue bill; don't raise it in the allotted time. We, after being granted extra time to turn in the overdue assignment, wait until the last minute and turn something in that is lacking any real effort. We after having plenty of time to make the best decision, don't make the best decision. When we are granted extra time in this life, we should follow the example of these men, and use it wisely. The men sent out the messengers and put their trust, faith, and hope that their message, their cry for help, would be delivered where it needed to go. The messengers went right where God knew they should go. They went to Gibeah and whispered the message to the people. The people lifted up their voices and wept. I wonder if these weeping people even knew the people who were in danger. Do we cry when we hear of appalling things that others are facing who we don't even know? Saul was with the herd in the field and heard the people crying. He couldn't understand why the people were so upset and asked what was going on. When he heard the message the men had brought, the Spirit of God fell on him and his anger was kindled and he took action.

Even though he was angry, Saul still made rational decisions. He took the time to figure out the best way to handle this problem. Saul did something that might seem a little irrational to us, but he was facing a major battle with an irrational king. He cut oxen up into pieces and sent out messengers with the pieces of meat all over Israel. He told the messengers to tell the people if you don't come and fight with me and Samuel the same thing that happened to these oxen will happen to yours. He didn't say I'll go kill that mean old king all by myself. He didn't say, forget the old guy, Samuel, what does he know? No, he knew he needed a Godly man, another believer, along side to help him in this battle. Saul knew the people had great respect for Samuel He used that to his advantage.

His plan worked, the people listened as the fear of the Lord fell on them all together 330,000 men heeded the call to come join the fight against this evil. The thousands gathered together and sent messengers to tell the men of Jabesh, each awaiting the loss of their right eye, help is on the way. By tomorrow your burden will be lifted, you will be saved. The men of Jabesh didn't question the message of their salvation. They simply believed. They told their enemies they would surrender by noon the next day and then they could do whatever they wanted to them. You see, they knew their deliverer was coming and nothing these men could do would harm them. We should have such great faith to know without a doubt that our deliver is coming to rescue us from our enemies. Our deliverer will fight our battles for us. The enemy can't harm us as long as He is with us. He will hear our cries for help, He will save us.

The next morning Saul launched a surprise attack on Nashash. Saul won the battle by a land slide. The people were so pleased with Saul that day that they wanted to kill anyone who had been against him becoming king. Saul told them that no one was going to be killed because today the Lord had brought salvation to Israel. This chapter ends on a happy note with Israel confirming Saul as king, making sacrifices and peace offerings to the Lord.