April 29th, 2025
by Jeremy Erb
by Jeremy Erb
When God Calls: Embracing the Mystery of Faith
Have you ever felt God calling you into the unknown? That unsettling yet exhilarating moment when you sense Him leading you beyond your comfort zone, into uncharted territory? The story of Saul, Israel's first king, offers profound insights into what it means to answer God's call and step into the mystery of faith.
In 1 Samuel 10, we witness a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The people have rejected God as their king, demanding a human ruler instead. Despite their unfaithfulness, God, in His infinite grace, decides to give them what they ask for. He chooses Saul, an unassuming man from the tribe of Benjamin, to lead His people.
As we delve into Saul's story, three powerful themes emerge that speak to our own journey of faith:
1. God's Sovereignty in Our Calling
When Samuel anoints Saul as king, he provides him with three signs to confirm God's choice. The first sign involves a seemingly mundane detail – lost donkeys. Yet, this apparently trivial matter becomes a profound demonstration of God's sovereignty. Saul is told he'll meet two men who will inform him that the donkeys have been found and that his father is now worried about him.
This sign reminds us that God is in control of even the smallest details of our lives. When He calls us, it's not by accident or happenstance. It's intentional and purposeful. Just as God orchestrated the circumstances around Saul's anointing, He is intimately involved in the process of calling and equipping us for His purposes.
Remember Joseph's declaration in Genesis 50:20: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." Our God is so sovereign that He can use even the evil intentions of others to bring about His good purposes. This truth should give us courage when stepping into the unknown, knowing that our God is in control of every detail.
2. God's Sufficiency in Our Inadequacy
The second sign given to Saul involves an encounter with three men carrying offerings to God. They give Saul two loaves of bread – not everything they have, but exactly what he needs for his journey. This sign speaks to God's provision and sufficiency.
Often, when God calls us, we feel woefully inadequate for the task. We look at our resources, our skills, our strength, and we see only lack. But God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called. He doesn't always give us everything we want, but He provides precisely what we need when we need it.
This truth echoes throughout Scripture. When God called Moses, he protested his inadequacy, but God promised His presence. When Jesus fed the 5,000, He took a boy's meager lunch and multiplied it abundantly. And in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul declares, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
God's call on our lives isn't a prosperity gospel promising comfort and ease. Rather, it's a gospel of providence – a promise that He will be with us, sustaining us with His grace, even in the midst of challenges and uncertainties.
3. God's Spirit Empowering Our Obedience
The third sign given to Saul involves an encounter with a group of prophets. As Saul meets them, the Spirit of God rushes upon him, and he begins to prophesy. This dramatic transformation illustrates a crucial truth: when God calls, He also empowers.
Saul, a man known for tending donkeys, suddenly finds himself filled with the Spirit of God, participating in prophetic worship. This radical change leaves those who knew him before astonished, asking, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"
This reminds us that God's call often stretches us beyond our natural abilities. He invites us into a realm where we must rely not on our own strength, but on the power of His Spirit. As Jesus promised His disciples in Acts 1:8, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses."
Embracing the Mystery
Saul's story, however, isn't one of unmitigated success. Even after experiencing these powerful signs, we find him hiding among the baggage when it's time to be presented as king. This honest portrayal reminds us that answering God's call isn't always a smooth or easy process. It involves wrestling with our fears, doubts, and inadequacies.
Yet, the beauty of God's grace shines through. Despite Saul's reluctance, God persists in His call. He doesn't demand perfection; He seeks willingness. He doesn't expect us to have it all figured out; He invites us to trust Him step by step.
This journey of faith often leads us into the unknown, into situations where we can't see the whole path ahead. It's in these moments that we're invited to trust not in our own understanding, but in the character and promises of God.
As we step out in faith, we may find, like Saul did, that the response to our obedience is mixed. Some will support and encourage us, while others may criticize or oppose us. Jesus himself warned His disciples, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18). Yet, He also promised His presence: "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
In the end, answering God's call isn't about having all the answers or being perfectly prepared. It's about trusting in His sovereignty, resting in His sufficiency, and relying on the power of His Spirit. It's about stepping into the mystery of faith, knowing that the God who calls us is faithful to complete the work He begins in us.
As we reflect on Saul's story and our own journeys of faith, may we be encouraged to respond when God calls. May we not hide among the baggage of our doubts and fears, but step out in confident trust. For in Jesus, we have a King who doesn't just call us from afar, but who entered our world, shared our sufferings, and conquered death itself to make a way for us.
In every uncertainty, in every challenge, in every step of obedience, may we remember this profound truth: In Jesus, God is more than enough. His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in our weakness. And His presence is our ultimate comfort and strength.
So, when God calls, will you answer? Will you trust Him, even when the path is unclear? Will you step into the beautiful mystery of faith, knowing that the One who calls you is faithful, and He will surely do it?
Have you ever felt God calling you into the unknown? That unsettling yet exhilarating moment when you sense Him leading you beyond your comfort zone, into uncharted territory? The story of Saul, Israel's first king, offers profound insights into what it means to answer God's call and step into the mystery of faith.
In 1 Samuel 10, we witness a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The people have rejected God as their king, demanding a human ruler instead. Despite their unfaithfulness, God, in His infinite grace, decides to give them what they ask for. He chooses Saul, an unassuming man from the tribe of Benjamin, to lead His people.
As we delve into Saul's story, three powerful themes emerge that speak to our own journey of faith:
1. God's Sovereignty in Our Calling
When Samuel anoints Saul as king, he provides him with three signs to confirm God's choice. The first sign involves a seemingly mundane detail – lost donkeys. Yet, this apparently trivial matter becomes a profound demonstration of God's sovereignty. Saul is told he'll meet two men who will inform him that the donkeys have been found and that his father is now worried about him.
This sign reminds us that God is in control of even the smallest details of our lives. When He calls us, it's not by accident or happenstance. It's intentional and purposeful. Just as God orchestrated the circumstances around Saul's anointing, He is intimately involved in the process of calling and equipping us for His purposes.
Remember Joseph's declaration in Genesis 50:20: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." Our God is so sovereign that He can use even the evil intentions of others to bring about His good purposes. This truth should give us courage when stepping into the unknown, knowing that our God is in control of every detail.
2. God's Sufficiency in Our Inadequacy
The second sign given to Saul involves an encounter with three men carrying offerings to God. They give Saul two loaves of bread – not everything they have, but exactly what he needs for his journey. This sign speaks to God's provision and sufficiency.
Often, when God calls us, we feel woefully inadequate for the task. We look at our resources, our skills, our strength, and we see only lack. But God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called. He doesn't always give us everything we want, but He provides precisely what we need when we need it.
This truth echoes throughout Scripture. When God called Moses, he protested his inadequacy, but God promised His presence. When Jesus fed the 5,000, He took a boy's meager lunch and multiplied it abundantly. And in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul declares, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
God's call on our lives isn't a prosperity gospel promising comfort and ease. Rather, it's a gospel of providence – a promise that He will be with us, sustaining us with His grace, even in the midst of challenges and uncertainties.
3. God's Spirit Empowering Our Obedience
The third sign given to Saul involves an encounter with a group of prophets. As Saul meets them, the Spirit of God rushes upon him, and he begins to prophesy. This dramatic transformation illustrates a crucial truth: when God calls, He also empowers.
Saul, a man known for tending donkeys, suddenly finds himself filled with the Spirit of God, participating in prophetic worship. This radical change leaves those who knew him before astonished, asking, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"
This reminds us that God's call often stretches us beyond our natural abilities. He invites us into a realm where we must rely not on our own strength, but on the power of His Spirit. As Jesus promised His disciples in Acts 1:8, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses."
Embracing the Mystery
Saul's story, however, isn't one of unmitigated success. Even after experiencing these powerful signs, we find him hiding among the baggage when it's time to be presented as king. This honest portrayal reminds us that answering God's call isn't always a smooth or easy process. It involves wrestling with our fears, doubts, and inadequacies.
Yet, the beauty of God's grace shines through. Despite Saul's reluctance, God persists in His call. He doesn't demand perfection; He seeks willingness. He doesn't expect us to have it all figured out; He invites us to trust Him step by step.
This journey of faith often leads us into the unknown, into situations where we can't see the whole path ahead. It's in these moments that we're invited to trust not in our own understanding, but in the character and promises of God.
As we step out in faith, we may find, like Saul did, that the response to our obedience is mixed. Some will support and encourage us, while others may criticize or oppose us. Jesus himself warned His disciples, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18). Yet, He also promised His presence: "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
In the end, answering God's call isn't about having all the answers or being perfectly prepared. It's about trusting in His sovereignty, resting in His sufficiency, and relying on the power of His Spirit. It's about stepping into the mystery of faith, knowing that the God who calls us is faithful to complete the work He begins in us.
As we reflect on Saul's story and our own journeys of faith, may we be encouraged to respond when God calls. May we not hide among the baggage of our doubts and fears, but step out in confident trust. For in Jesus, we have a King who doesn't just call us from afar, but who entered our world, shared our sufferings, and conquered death itself to make a way for us.
In every uncertainty, in every challenge, in every step of obedience, may we remember this profound truth: In Jesus, God is more than enough. His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in our weakness. And His presence is our ultimate comfort and strength.
So, when God calls, will you answer? Will you trust Him, even when the path is unclear? Will you step into the beautiful mystery of faith, knowing that the One who calls you is faithful, and He will surely do it?
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