1 Samuel 13:5-7
5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.
So what was it that made Saul take things into his own hands as we read yesterday? The earlier verses give the answer, he and his men were threatened by forces that far outnumbered them and were far better equipped. Looking at their enemies, it was obvious that they were in severe trouble, the situation was critical. But I wonder if that was the problem, they were looking at greatness of the problems that faced them rather than the even greatness of the God they served. The challenge when facing troubles is to look to him; if we do that, our troubles don’t disappear as one song puts it, but they are put into perspective.
Father, help us to fix our eyes on Jesus and the greatness of your love and power displayed in him, so that just as he wasn’t distracted from following you, we won’t be either, even when trouble assails us.
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