Getting Out of Step
Saul had everything going for him. Besides being the son of a highly respected man, he was impressive in appearance. Since God chose him to lead Israel at a time when the nation faced formidable enemies, we can only surmise that he was also courageous and charismatic. Unfortunately, Saul spent much of his reign out of step with God. His errors in judgment stemmed largely from an inflated sense of self-importance. One blunder set off a chain reaction of sin. When people think more highly of themselves than they should, they stop relying on divine guidance. Saul thought he knew better than God; he ignored the law and offered a pre-battle sacrifice in Samuel’s place, despite explicit instructions to wait for the prophet. Because Saul refused to submit to God’s command, the Lord gave the kingdom to someone who would obey. Pride always drives us away from God’s path. The good news is that He gladly welcomes back the wayward. Blessing and joy await those who walk in step with God.
