Are You Looking For A Donkey?

In I Samuel 9-10 we read that Saul and his servant were sent by his father to look for lost donkeys, which they were unable to find. The servant suggested they seek out the prophet to help with the search. While this was going on, God spoke to the prophet Samuel telling him that the following day he would encounter the man from the tribe of Benjamin who he would anoint commander over Israel’s army, so that they could defeat the Philistines. God heard the cry of His people and told Samuel that this man would become the King over Israel. Samuel also knew that this Benjamite would be searching for donkeys.

As was told to Samuel, so it happened. Samuel met up with Saul and his servant and took them to the dining hall where Saul was not only given a place of honor, but also the choice meat that was set aside for him, by Samuel’s instructions, before he even arrived. Saul must have really wondered about this special treatment as the Word notes that he was puzzled that Samuel honored him knowing that Saul was from the smallest of the tribes.

The next morning Samuel sends Saul on his way. However, before Saul left, Samuel sends Saul’s servant ahead so that he could speak privately to Saul. In that moment he anointed Saul and prophesied that he would be commander over Israel, told him his next steps of finding the lost donkeys, that he would encounter 3 men on his way that would feed him, that he would encounter a group of prophets, and when he did, the Spirit of God would come upon him and he would prophesy, turning into another person and giving him a new heart. He also said at that moment Saul would do as the occasion demanded and God would be with him.

Just as Samuel prophesied . . . so it happened! Then, Samuel gathered the children of Israel to give them a “thus saith the Lord” word telling them that because they had rejected God He would give them the King they asked for, a king chosen from the smallest of the tribes, the tribe of Benjamin, and that their chosen king would be Saul!

I would imagine that Saul in hindsight would never have ever thought his trip looking for donkeys at his father’s request would lead to his becoming Commander in Chief and King! Our own destiny may be awaiting our obedience to our Father’s instructions to do that which is odd, unusual, or what is not what we would really want to do . . . if we will “go” when He says go and if we will “go after what He sends us after”!

Remember . . . Numbers 22 records the time that God spoke to Balaam the prophet through the mouth of a donkey . . . don’t be surprised at HOW and through WHO or WHAT He may speak!!!

May I ask you today . . . what donkey are you looking for?

(I took the photo of the donkey you see. Michael and I found him while driving in the country by Granbury, Texas . . . he loved me speaking to him!)