With or Without Us

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 27:8-9, And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. For those nations were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as you go to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt. 9 Whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the apparel, and returned and came to Achish.

Once again, we see something interesting about how God used David’s choice to live among the Philistines. Let us take a trip down memory lane first. In 1 Samuel 15:1-3 we read God’s command to Saul to destroy the Amalekites. It reads, “Samuel also said to Saul, ‘The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD. 2 Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” In the verses that follow we read of Saul’s disobedience to God’s command. It was this act of disobedience and rebellion that caused Saul’s forfeiture of the throne. Now, we fast forward to David’s choice to live among the Philistines. We already said that God used this occasion to give Ziklag back to Israel, as it was first given to both the tribe of Judah and to Simeon during Joshua’s leadership over God’s people while they were occupying the land. Now, God uses David’s position to finally accomplish His command to destroy the Amalekites. Whether David realized it or not, God used him to accomplish that which Saul refused to do. We see a principle here that still applies today. God will use every aspect of our lives to accomplish His will and plan. Those moments when we choose to disobey or rebel against what God is trying to accomplish through us will not remain undone. The question is, “Will God do this with us or without us?” What will ultimately determine that? Well, that will be determined by whether we choose to obediently serve and follow the Lord or choose to be disobedient and rebellious as Saul was. In Exodus 4, when God called Moses to go to Egypt, Moses made all kinds of excuses and asked God to send someone else. God’s anger was kindled against Moses for his lack of faith and his disobedience, and instead chose Moses’ brother Aaron to be the mouthpiece by which He would speak to Pharaoh (Exodus 4:14-16). Moses’ refusal to speak did not stop God from accomplishing His plan to lead His people out of Egypt. Although he did not let Moses off the hook, he replaced him as His mouthpiece and used someone else. The saddest part of our choices to not be available for God’s use or our choices to rebel and disobey is that with those choices come loss of blessings and rewards. How much greater would Moses’ story have been had he simply obeyed God and gone to Egypt and spoke the words God had commanded him to speak. It would have been an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power through Moses’ weakness. Saul’s choice cost him everything, but it did not stop God from accomplishing His will. Instead, He chose a faithful servant like David to finally carry it out. When we find ourselves at the crossroad of trying to decide if we are going to obediently serve the Lord or choose our way, based on our own reasoning, selfish motives, or lack of faith, remember that God can, and will, accomplish His will and plan with or without you and me. The choice is ours.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).