Temptation brings trouble
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We are continuing our series this morning Titled Waiting on God - Patience while waiting for the promise.
Waiting on God to act or trusting His promises can be challenging. Sometimes we feel the need to take matters into our own hands, but the Bible shows us this doesn’t work out well. During this series we will be looking at four times when people took matters into their own hands rather than waiting on God—and the fallout from those decisions.
Last week we look at a moment when Moses lost is trust in God and took matter into is own hands. Everything always starts with a problem. The Israelites had no water where they were at. So that got anger and took it out on Moses. Moses goes before God and say hi look we need water. God say go and speak to this rock and water will flow out. Moses decide that I can do it better than God. I will just hit this rock not once but twice to make the water flow and I will not give God the create. Mose did his own thing. We sometimes do this to. We say i do like doing that way let me do it this other way cause it easier.
When you don’t trust God to act, you will act without God.
This morning we will be look at a man named Saul and how he let things get in the way of him and God.
So if you have your bible go head and turn to 1 Samuel 15:1-11. if you do not have you bible you can follow along on the screen in a few moment.
Before we look at that passage we have be trying to answer this question for the past 3 week.
What is “taking matters into your own hands”?
What is “taking matters into your own hands”?
We have see that its having impatience and the lack of trust but it can also take another form: temptation.
think for a moment. what are some temptation for you?
Someone sees something nice that they want, and so they take it. I go though this when I start look at saltwater fish stores. I see all this nice pieces of coral or a fish for 50, 75, or 100 bucks and say o i need that. Do I really need that no.
Will this temptation lead me away from God. It could. A lot of temptation can and will lead you down a road that you do not want to be on. There is moment when one can either be obedient to God or turn one’s back on God and literally take something into their own hands.
This is what happened to Saul in our store today.
1 Samuel told Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Now, listen to the words of the Lord.
2 This is what the Lord of Armies says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt.
3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ ”
4 Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah.
5 Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi.
6 He warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I’ll sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.
7 Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt.
8 He captured King Agag of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword.
9 Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.
10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel,
11 “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.
Samuel’s message to Saul
Samuel’s message to Saul
God give Samuel a clear message to what Saul should do and how God people should deal with the enemies. God tells Saul to completely destroy them. Kill everything. Do at spare anything.
Saul was ok let’s do this.
Saul acts on this message
Saul acts on this message
Saul assembles his troops and goes to war. The Israelites are victorious, but Saul spares their leader, Agag, and the best of the livestock (v. 9).
The greed
The greed
This was most likely motivated by greed. Sparing the enemy king would make Saul look more powerful, as he could claim a slave who was once a powerful king. He would also be enriched by keeping the best livestock for himself. Saul took matters into his own hands by deciding he—not God—knew what was best.
There is always a consequence
There is always a consequence
As is the case every time someone takes matters into their own hands rather than submitting to God, there is a negative consequence.
God removes kingship and anointing from Saul (v. 23) and gives it to David. Saul should have be the king that God used but he was not.
The result will be strife and civil war as Saul and his men hunt David throughout the wilderness.
Temptation can cause us to take matters into our own hands.
Temptation can cause us to take matters into our own hands.
When tempted, how do you remain steadfast to God and not give in?
When tempted, how do you remain steadfast to God and not give in?