To Encourage You

1 Samuel 9:6 “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.”

In the verse above we have the advice of an unnamed servant of Saul to Saul (who would shortly become Israel’s first king) as they were looking for Saul’s father’s lost donkeys.  Saul and his servant had searched high and low for these donkeys but to no avail.  It was at this point that Saul suggests that they return empty-handed for fear that his father would begin to worry about them more than he did about his donkeys.  But as a last resort, Saul’s servant recommends that they first go to “a man of God” for his guidance. This “man of God,” incidentally, was the aged prophet Samuel.  The servant had heard about this prophet.  He knew that Samuel was a man held in high honor by many of the people of Israel. Samuel was obviously very close to God for whenever he prophesied about things, every single time they occurred exactly as he had said. 

What caught my attention here is the word “perhaps,” in the sense of “perhaps” this man who is so in touch with God can tell us something useful regarding our dilemma. “Perhaps,” i.e., just maybe, as a last resort, it might be possible that Samuel can tell us something helpful.  Interestingly, although Samuel had such a reputation, apparently Saul didn’t know anything about him. If it hadn’t been for Saul’s servant, Samuel would have never entered Saul’s mind.

This makes me think beyond the “man of God” named Samuel, to the God-man Himself, Jesus Christ.  How often, when we face difficulty, do we first try everything else before it dawns on us to pray.  Isn’t it strange that we would wait until there seems to be no other answer before we go to the One Who has not only told us many things that have been shown to be true, but Who is the Truth incarnate? And then, when we go to Him, how often do we have the attitude that perhaps He can actually help us. Perhaps? Perhaps?!!! What a strange thought that if we would turn to the One Who spoke the universe into existence; the One Who actually wrote the DNA code; and Who is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, that He perhaps can show us the way! 

May God help us to realize that Jesus, Who is not just a “man of God” but God the Son, has the answer and the way for us to go regarding each and every dilemma that touches our lives.  He’s given us His very words, written in black and white, and if we have put our faith in Him, He’s given us the indwelling Holy Spirit to open our eyes to what His Word means.   And not only that, He’s also given us the privilege of prayer, which is an open door to the same throne room of God that Samuel once turned to, where we can each, personally, take any need we ever have.  But beyond all that, God has also given us His promise that He “will supply every need of (ours) according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). That includes wisdom for every decision, and guidance for every fork in the road as we walk along this pathway called life. 

May God give us the wisdom to turn to Him, not as a last resort, but as the first thing that crosses our mind as we face the issues that come our way each day. And may He give us a faith that goes far beyond the idea that perhaps our God can help us. May He give us the confident assurance that in any situation we face in life, He is all we need.