Waiting is hard. In a world where almost everything is instant, I usually gravitate toward the faster option. My husband is content to order a book and wait for it to arrive—media mail, if you know how slow that can be—but I would rather download the e-reader version and start reading immediately.
I’ve always been a little impatient. When I was in high school, I couldn’t wait to start college. I enrolled in three night classes during my senior year and spent my summer taking equivalency exams just to skip past more requirements.
This week I’d like to share some reflections on impatience and the story of Saul. I’ll also share the sting of regret that I felt after a basketball game.
In 1 Samuel, the prophet has given Saul clear instruction to wait seven days for him. And I’d like to point out that Saul did wait seven days--
And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. —1 Samuel 13:8
You see, the circumstances around Saul are growing worse. The Philistines are gathering for battle—multitudes of people, multiplied thousands of chariots and horsemen. The children of Israel are hiding, trembling, fleeing and scattering away.
The pressure is mounting and finally Saul decides that he cannot wait any longer. “Bring hither a burnt offering to me,” he says. And Saul offers the sacrifice himself.
Have you ever given up on something at just the wrong time? I was at a basketball game with a friend several weeks ago and I thought for certain our team had lost. I don’t think they had led once through the entire game, we had just missed a layup, it was late on a Saturday evening and ... we left early.
As we listened to the radio call on the way home it became clear that we had made a mistake because within those next 15 minutes, our team ended up winning a very exciting game. If only we had stayed...the regret still stings.
I wonder if Saul felt the same pain of regret. In the very next verse, the Bible says:
And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. —1 Samuel 13:10
Samuel hadn’t forgotten to come. Saul had simply given up waiting too soon.
The command to wait is not unusual. Throughout the Bible, God often calls people to be still and patient:
…Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, —Exodus 14:13
Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: —Ruth 3:18
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him… —Psalm 37:7
Waiting requires faith.
Waiting is believing that God is able to act and surrendering control to Him.
Have you ever noticed that Saul did not immediately disobey?
He didn’t see the Philistine army gathering and immediately say, bring a burnt sacrifice, I can’t wait for Samuel.
He did wait.
He waited seven days.
He gave Samuel his due diligence.
But then Saul began to focus on the circumstances and trust only in what he could see.
And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; — 1 Samuel 13:11
“Because I saw.” Saul’s greatest mistake was not in refusing to wait—it was in deciding that he had waited long enough.
People don’t wake up and say today I will disobey God, today I will leave my church, today I will leave my spouse. They wait. And they allow bitterness or frustration to grow and fester until finally they say, “I’ve waited long enough.”
Do you think if Saul had Life360 tracking Samuel and could see how close he was, that he would have been content to wait just a little longer? But we walk by faith and not by sight. Saul couldn’t SEE anything happening and said I need to take control.
Impatience causes us to magnify the problems of our present situation while blinding us to the dangers of stepping out of God’s will. It causes us to act foolishly.
Samuel rebuked Saul and said, “thou hast done foolishly.” (Verse 13)
“Fool” is a strong word. The verse that immediately comes to mind is Psalm 14:1—The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
So often we think of that verse referring to atheists. But a person can act foolishly, as Saul, anytime they live as though God is not real, not in control, not powerful enough to keep His promises.
Look at the situation again—
The Philistines were mounting.
Saul’s army was fleeing.
He had to wait for Samuel, and he still hasn’t shown up.
Saul feels like things are out of control.
Sometimes the Devil can create a false sense of urgency within us. We compare ourselves to others, we focus on our circumstances, and the future is unknown. We want to feel in control. So we push ahead in our own strength and ignore God’s instruction to wait patiently for Him.
Do we have a prayer that seems unanswered? A situation that doesn’t seem to change? A decision we are tempted to rush into?
Saul’s story reminds us that impatience often grows strongest, and our urge to take matters into our own hands often comes right before God’s will is made clear.
When my friend and I decided to leave the basketball game, we had already been at the arena for well over two hours. What difference would another 15 minutes make? But frustration and tiredness caused us to give up too soon. Impatience distorts our perspective. It makes the present seem unbearable and the alternative more appealing.
The danger is not that Saul didn’t wait. The danger came when he decided he had waited long enough.
And while we can sometimes struggle to wait for the Lord, the Bible reminds us that Christ has extraordinary patience toward us:
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. —1 Timothy 1:16
Christ patiently calls sinners to repentance, sometimes waiting years. If God were as impatient as I am, where would I be? His patience towards us is greater than the patience we are able to give Him in return.
Saul lost a kingdom because he couldn’t wait any longer. May we learn to exercise a bit more Christ-like patience and remain faithful while we wait for God’s timing in our own lives.
Oh, Natalie. So good... What a great reminder and challenge!
Thank you.
When I was in the USAF during the decade of the 1960's I was very patient. I was in the Netherlands and communication with the states was by snail mail. Things just took longer to deal with. As I get older I find I'm less patient because almost every thing can be done online and the things that can't tend to try my patience. To be honest, I found life easier when answers weren't immediate.