“When I saw that the men were scattering … I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering” – 1 Sam. 13:11-12

It should have been his glorious hour. Saul was set for his first major military campaign since his coronation. Victory for Israel was an opportunity to bring credibility to their agitation for a king. So, King Saul selected the best three thousand soldiers from the men of military age in the nation. The battle was set at Mikmash. Saul could smell victory and the joy of a festive return with singing and dancing from the women.

The size of the Philistine army and their weaponry struck terror in the hearts of Israel’s finest (1 Samuel 13:5). Many of them hid in caves and thickets, and some deserted camp and fled for their lives. What does a commander do at such a time?

King Saul kept one final event for hope and confidence – the burnt offering by Samuel. But, Samuel delayed, and more soldiers deserted camp. King Saul’s temperature rose with each deserter until exasperation reached explosive level. He paced heavier with keen anticipation of Samuel’s arrival until the king’s patience ebbed to zero. With shaking hands and pounding heart, Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself (9).

“What have you done?” asked Samuel.

“When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time … I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering” (11-12). Poor Saul!

“You have done a foolish thing … the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people” (1 Sam. 13: 13-14).

Excuses cannot obliterate our unacceptable behavior wrought out of fear and anxiety. God desires unqualified devotion and trust in every situation we face. They cannot explain our impatience and presumption and make them acceptable. And that was what Samuel told Saul in his rebuke.

Has that happened to you before? How many times have you waited for God, but moved minutes before He stepped in? How many times do you have to learn this lesson on patience and endurance?

As Isaiah said, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” {Isa. 40:31).