Amazing Race

1 Samuel 9:25-10:8

                     

Paul compared the Christian life to Athletics. You need training, you have a track, you’re timed, and you need to finish the race, hopefully with a prize too. But reading Samuel’s instruction to Saul here, it’s more likely he was signed up for Amazing Race. He attended one rooftop orientation, received a pouring from a flask of oil as passport,  and was given three clues to look for in this leg. That’s it and off he goes.  Next destination will be revealed after seven days at the Gilgal Pit Stop. Of course all those preliminaries before his kingly proclamation were not without reason and relevance. The anointing of oil was for him to acknowledge that he was God-chosen and is accountable to Him; the first clue being at Rachel’s tomb was to remind him of God’s grace to his ancestral line; his second clue was to receive two loaves of bread which is but a portion of the people’s offering to God , that clearly puts him second in line; third clue is joining a processional of prophets where he’ll come out a changed man. Meaning, though being given a position head above the Israelites, God wants him to be one with the people in singing His praise!  After those clues have been fulfilled, Samuel instructed him to wait. It would seem an ordinary task if it was given to my mother who unbelievable doesn’t mind waiting. God knew this will be Saul’s downfall soon, so as early as this time, He is training him to hold the reins of his weakness. What a wonderful, wise God we have! All his moves are purposeful and are motivated with much love. God’s wisdom extends to designing a race with challenges tailor-fit for each one of us. Some needed more heights to climb, for some colder nights to bear. At some points He can give us teammates to give us that necessary push, but at times they can be our unwanted extra load. Some tasks are already set, some presents us with a choice. But we all have been armed with the necessary provisions to carry us through the entire leg. No wonder it’s called an amazing race!

Application:

Waiting. The usual concept is to remain stationary and inactive. Sounds unproductive, right? But in a royal court, to wait is to readily attend to an instruction. It is not a red light, but a yellow light, closer to the Go. It is being prepared for an immediate action. What do you think waiters in a restaurant do? Sit and chat while you decide on your orders? No. So why is it, when God puts a hold on our prayers, that we let go of our defenses, wander around in circles and give everyone the reason that God hasn’t given any direction yet? Shouldn’t singles choose not to have that alone-lonely-loner look and start working on being God’s best instead? Why stare nowhere when we can start somewhere. Ruth was a loving and diligent daughter-in-law even before Boaz saw her. Esther prayed and fasted and she got the King’s favor. Mary kept herself pure and became the virgin mother of Jesus. It took seven days for Saul to be disqualified from office. Just one day more to hold his disciplines intact and his kingdom secure. Looking back at my many life’s choices, I know I could have endured more and waited longer. Given this nth chance to run again, I’ll play by His rules, give it my best shot, and wait on Him on the pit stop. I’ll never give in and never give up again!