As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”–and the servant did so–“but you stay here awhile, so that I may give you a message from God” (1 Samuel 9:27 NIV).
How often do you get a message from God? Not often could be your answer. Are you very busy? Yes, in fact too busy, could be your answer. Would you now relate these two facts to each other? You might be surprised to see a pattern emerge:
This pattern shows you that God is always ready to speak to you. But you are busy; too busy to slow down to hear what God wants to speak to you.
In Saul’s example, we find him listening to what Samuel said to him. Samuel told him to stay there awhile so that he could give him the message from God.
Saul could have refused to stay. After all, he could have said that he was in a hurry to reach home that he had left some days ago.
But Saul chose to stay back. And he was then anointed as the leader of Israel. He was given further directions as to what he was to expect to happen soon in his life.
This would not have been possible had he hurried ahead. So to stay awhile to hear from God is of ultimate importance.
But there is yet another important thing to note here. In the first place it was Saul’s servant who had encouraged Saul to go and meet Samuel, the man of God. Yet now Samuel had asked Saul to sent the servant ahead so that he could stay awhile.
Oh, this teaches a great lesson! To hear from God you should allow even your best companion to go ahead so that you can stay awhile. Only then can you hear His personal message for you.
—
More Manna: