God's Not Answering

Having trouble hearing God's voice? Check out 1 Samuel 14:24-46 #YFA #iDevo #LivingLeadership

Saul had done a good job of following the Lord’s commands but then the more successful he got the less he listened to God or Samuel (God’s prophet or voice at the time) and instead kept doing things on his own. Saul made a bad decision in making his men not eat and they paid dearly for it. They were exhausted and they could have been easily defeated. It was a bad choice but Jonathan did not follow it. First unknowingly but after knowingly when he commented on how strong he was.

The thing is there are a couple issues here. First the leader was not following God’s plan. Now it can be easy to disagree with a leader and say they are not doing what they should be doing but that is between them and God. John Bevere in his book “Under Cover” says that submission does not begin till we disagree with our authority. You see it is easy to be submitted to leadership when they are doing what you want them to, it is only when we disagree that we have the choice to follow leadership or rebel against it. A lot of times though it is a disagreement of preference that gets us in trouble. We disagree or think we can do better but the truth is neither way may be sinful or wrong and unless the leader is trying to make us disobey God’s word or do something against the law it is a matter to preference and God will hold the leader accountable for not following Him. This brings us to the next issue.

The Israelite’s were able to hear God’s voice even when Saul told them not to eat. It was not till Jonathan decided to disobey that God’s voice was kept from them. Sure his idea was a better choice (in this case) but that is not our call to make. Ultimately God was dealing with Saul as the king for his poor choices and he was replaced for it. Jonathan though had to be dealt with for his rebellion and choosing to disobey the leader (spiritual leader) over him was still rebellion and a sin.

So the next time God’s voice seems distant we may need to ask why and allow Him to show us where we can do better. Because we may not even realize we are in sin or rebellion with how we respond to leadership when we disagree.