Saul’s father lost a plural number of donkeys and sent Saul to search for them (1 Sam 9:3). Little did anyone know at the time, that mundane and menial event was much bigger and more important than it appeared! In vain, Saul and his servant searched for days for the donkeys, until they found Samuel, the prophet. Finding the donkeys was not the main issue anymore, as initially believed! (In fact, the donkeys had been found, 1 Sam. 9:20.) The real purpose behind the search for the donkeys was concealed and became revealed at the right time. It was for the anointing of Saul as king over Israel! God sometimes does things like this:
Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me.” When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.” (1 Sam 9:15-17)
Your Own Lost Donkey Search
How many times has God likewise sent you somewhere to meet someone or do something that seemed non-eventful, but was actually an important event in someone’s life. Perhaps you spoke a word of encouragement, handed out salvation literature or did some other act of righteousness (Mt. 6:1-20), which had important far reaching circumstances. As with Saul, your own lost donkeys experience was a blessing in disguise! Sometimes that can happen without being fully aware of it.
Did you notice that God told Samuel that he [God] sent Saul (v.16)? That too tells us something about how God operates. At times, God does operate in mysterious ways (but always in accord with Scripture)! Saul’s father initially sent Saul, but it was really God behind the event to get him to Samuel! Only on Judgment Day, will we have the opportunity to learn how many times God has sent us somewhere or to someone for some purpose. Dear saint, remember what Paul wrote:
Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:15,16)
