Thurs.’s Devo - Faith - The Evidence of Things Not Seen

Read: 1 Samuel 10:1-11:15; John 6:43-71; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 15:1-3 Samuel had drawn Saul aside to speak privately with him. He took a flask of olive oil and poured it over his head, kissed Saul and told him that God was anointing him to be the ruler over Israel. He also told him that when he leaves, he would see two men beside Rachel”s tomb at Zelzah. They would tell him that his donkeys have been found and that his dad is looking for him. *** When he reached the oak of Tabor he would meet three men. One would be carrying three young goats, the other three loaves of bread and the other a wineskin full of wine. They would offer him two of the loaves which he should take. Next, he would come to Gibeah, the hill of God where the Philistines had a garrison. He would meet a group of prophets with instruments who would come praising the Lord. He would prophesy with them and be changed into a different man. Then he was to go to Gilgal where he was to wait seven days for Samuel to come and give him further instructions. *** Everything that Samuel said would happen, happened. He met his uncle who asked him where he had been. He told him about the lost donkeys and meeting Samuel, but he didn’t tell him what Samuel had said about him. *** Samuel called all Israel to meet him at Mizpah. He showed them by lot that God had chosen Saul to be their king they had asked for. Saul was found hiding among the baggage. Samuel presented him before the people. Most of the people accepted Saul and gave him gifts but some were not pleased with God’s choice. *** King Nahash of Ammon had been oppressing the people of Gad and Reuben on the east side of the Jordan. They had gouged out the right eye of all the men who lived there except the men of Jabesh-gilead. The Ammonites went to attack Jabesh-gilead, but they asked them to make a peace treaty with them. The Ammonites replied that they would if they were allowed to gouge out the right eye of all their men. They asked for 7 days to see if Israel would help them. They sent messengers to ask for help from their fellow tribes. News reached Saul in Gibeah and he was filled with righteous indignation. He cut two oxen in pieces and sent the pieces throughout Israel saying that his was what he would do to the oxen of anyone who did not come and help them fight the Ammonites. He rallied 330,000 men and told Jabesh-gilead that they would rescue them by noon the next day. The men of Jabesh-gilead were elated and sent word to the Ammonites that they would surrender at noon the next day. Instead, Saul came at dawn and laughed a surprise attack on the Ammonite camp killing all who did not escape. *** The people wanted to kill the men who had not accepted Saul as their king, but Saul wouldn’t let them. Instead, he called them to Gilgal to renew the kingdom. They made Saul their king and offered peace offerings to the Lord. The people were filled with joy. *** In John, Jesus had just told the crowd that he was the bread of life that came down from heaven. All the people could see was the natural. They knew that he had been born of Mary and Joseph so how could he have come down from heaven. He told them to stop arguing about that. No would would be able to understand his words unless God draws him to himself. That person would be raised on the last day. He explained that the ones who ate the manna in the time of Moses ended up dying, but he would give them bread which would cause them to live eternally. *** They were very confused about his words about bread. He confused them even further when he told him that unless they ate his flesh and drank his blood they would not have eternal life. His disciples complained that this was too deep for anyone to understand and it offended the people. Jesus said if this offended them then what would they think when they saw him ascend into heaven. *** This was a great turning point in his ministry and he lost a large amount of his followers. He asked his disciples if they were going to leave also but they said that he had the words to eternal life and they believed that he was the one sent by God. Jesus told them that he knew that one of them was a devil. He even knew who it was. *** Jesus knew that they didn’t understand all he was telling them but he was not just saying what he said for them but for us who would come later. He also knew that they would understand much better after he had left. The Holy Spirit would take them back through his words and they could see that they all came true. *** Lord, help us to have faith like the disciples who believed even when they didn’t understand the big picture. We are living in a day much like that day where we have promises that seem impossible to come true, but our faith carries us. May we believe without having to understand.