WAIT… THAT’S IN THE BIBLE? — DAY 41

A lighthearted look at some of the wonderfully unexpected things you discover when you actually read your Bible, context still matters!

“So they inquired further of the LORD, ‘Has the man come here yet?’ And the LORD said, ‘Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.’” 1 Samuel 10:22

WAIT… ISRAEL’S NEW KING WAS HIDING IN THE LUGGAGE?!

Picture the scene.

The people of Israel have gathered together.

This is a HUGE moment.

They’re about to publicly discover who their first king will be.

The lot is cast

The tribe of Benjamin is chosen.

Then Saul’s family.

Then finally:

SAUL SON OF KISH!

Everyone looks around.

“Saul?”

“SAUL?”

More looking.

“HAS ANYONE SEEN THE NEW KING?!”

They’ve chosen the king

AND THEY CAN’T FIND HIM.

So what do they do?

They actually ASK GOD WHERE SAUL IS.

And God’s answer is essentially:

“CHECK BEHIND THE LUGGAGE.”

Imagine somebody moving a few bags

“FOUND HIM!”

Saul:

“Maybe if I stay really quiet they’ll choose somebody else.”

This is Israel’s first royal presentation.

No grand entrance.

No trumpet fanfare.

No confident wave to the crowd.

Just:

“YOUR NEW KING, EVERYONE!”

“…AS SOON AS WE GET HIM OUT FROM BEHIND THE SUPPLIES.”

Context still matters!

Saul hadn’t simply wandered off and accidentally become trapped behind someone’s suitcase.

Samuel had already privately anointed Saul as king.

God had given Saul signs confirming what Samuel had told him.

But when the moment came for Saul to be publicly presented before Israel

HE HID.

And there’s something fascinating about that because physically, Saul looked exactly like someone you’d expect to be king.

Scripture tells us that when he finally stood among the people:

“He was a head taller than any of the others.” 1 Samuel 10:23

He stood out in the crowd.

He looked impressive.

He looked kingly.

But apparently inside

Saul wasn’t feeling nearly as impressive as he looked.

And that makes this strange little scene surprisingly relatable.

Sometimes everyone else can look at you and think:

“You’re perfect for this.”

While inside you’re thinking:

“I WONDER IF THERE’S SOME LUGGAGE I CAN HIDE BEHIND.”

You can be called

and still feel overwhelmed by the calling.

You can be chosen

and still wonder whether you’re capable.

You can look confident on the outside

while desperately wanting somewhere to hide.

But there’s one slight problem with hiding when God has called you:

GOD KNOWS WHERE THE LUGGAGE IS.

Saul:

hides

People:

“Where’s Saul?”

God:

“OVER THERE.”

Apparently there is no hiding place good enough when God decides to point you out.

So perhaps there’s a little encouragement buried among the supplies:

If God has called you to something and you feel completely inadequate

you’re certainly not the first person to consider hiding.

But hiding behind the luggage probably isn’t a long-term strategy.

Sometimes Scripture gives us courageous leaders.

Sometimes it gives us reluctant leaders.

And sometimes

IT GIVES US A KING HIDING BEHIND THE BAGS.

Context still matters!