Over the next four days we are going to look at life lessons from the life of Saul, the first king of Israel. Lessons gleaned from a leader who lived thousands of years ago and who lived a troubled life that Freud would have had a hay day with.
Today's Lesson: Have You Lost Your Donkeys?
Wednesday: Perhaps?
Thursday: He Just Happens to Be Over There!
Friday: It Is Your Turn
On Sunday, May 16, 2010, Sylvia Watson, Joan's Mom, received the prestigious Presbyterian Women's Life Membership Award at Pocket Presbyterian Church in Sanford, NC. The church where Joan and I got our start.
The honor was given to the most deserving Presbyterian Woman I know. Proud of you Sylvia. Congratulations. Here she is surrounded by most of her ten grandchildren (I made you count didn't I).
Following the ceremony, we went to Fred and Sylvia's home where Fred grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for the clan. Prior to eating however, Jeff, Joan's brother, announced that he needed cow hands to help him get his cow back in the fence; much to Nate and Ian's delight. Off they ran loading up in the truck cow hunting.
In 1 Samuel 9:3, we are told, "Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father were lost."
Saul and a servant had not lost a cow; they lost several donkeys. They set out on a journey to recover the lost donkeys (I know some lost donkeys, friends and family, but to chase that I'd be digressing too far). The refrain of the next verse reverberates, "They passed through...But they did not find them."
Saul suggests that they should give up and return home stating that his father will now be more concerned that he has lost his son than that the donkeys are missing. The servant however, has another idea. We will get to that tomorrow.
For now, let's focus on loss for a moment. What have you lost? Donkeys, keys, cell phone (daily occurrence for Joan), glasses, a cow? Perhaps you are at a place like Saul where you are ready to give up. Hold on, God already knows where the donkeys are. It really is not about the donkeys. God's diversion was the donkeys. That got Saul's attention. From there, God was able to speak into Saul's life and deliver the message that he really needed to hear.
Don't settle for searching for donkeys? Ask God what's up. He may just have something far greater in mind than the greatest thing currently on your mind. He did for Saul, to get the full story go read 1 Samuel 9.
O BTW, Jeff, did get his cow back.
Take Your Next Step,
Dr. L. Douglas Dorman
