“Faith With Evidence Part II”

 Faith is not belief because you just believe. Blind Faith is not what God wants. Faith is the belief that God exists based on evidence of God. Lets continue with that discussion.

Commentary

To understand what “Faith with Evidence” means, it is important to look at what “Faithless with Evidence” means.

When we look at Saul sitting under a pomegranate tree, he is surrounded by 600 men and the God’s priest. Safely waiting, while thousands of Philistines are building an army to overwhelm Israel. Saul’s son, Jonathan and his armor bearer, crept into the midst of the Philistines and began a great slaughter of the Philistines. Two men against thousands began to defeat them by God’s power.

Remember when Jacob, soon to be named Israel, traveled through the Land of Caanan and God caused so much conflict among the tribes that surrounded Jacob, that they were able to safely come to Egypt? God always provides a rescue.

When Saul realized that all of Israel were chasing the Philistines he became so excited that he asked God’s Priest to bring out the Ark, then tells the priest to put it back. Saul can’t decide what he should do, but he certainly is not turning to God for directions.

Instead of rewarding his troops he begins to punish them, when they have fought to the point of starvation. God provides honey for them, Saul warns he will punish them. Finally as Israel has gone as far as it can and has defeated the Philistines, finding all the Philistine food stuffs they become ravenous and begin eating the livestock with blood. That is they ate the animals without preparing them according to Mosaic Law.

Even with the end of a major victory Saul built an altar to God. Then…”And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.” (1 Samuel 14:37)

Saul should have taken the silence as a sign. But he didn’t. Instead he turned to the people for an affirmative response. Which he didn’t receive. Although Saul felt that his own son, Jonathan had broken Saul’s command, and die. The people argued that Jonathan had been fighting the Philistines with God’s permission. God’s example bought Jonathan’s rescue and the people knew it.

The Philistines were able to withdraw from Saul, but Saul was not done with his war on the peoples around Canaan.

“So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.” (1 Samuel 14:47)

Saul began to fight all of his enemies, but he did not seek God’s direction. It was all on Saul’s decision. He kept his enemies and Israel busy and tired of such a long war.

Saul is finally confronted by a choice. Samuel had spoken with God, and God spoke to Samuel.

“2Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

3Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” (1 Samuel 15:2-3)

God commands Saul to kill every living thing the Amalekites had. Saul just couldn’t, wouldn’t listen to God. Instead of following a command, Saul took the animals and took the King of the Amalekites alive.

Samuel returned to where Saul was and told him straightly that he had angered God by not listening to his commandment. Samuel told Saul, you are no longer King of Israel. Saul begged Samuel to stay by his side, and bring God with you. Samuel left Saul. Saul had seen the power of God. Samuel had educated Saul as to God’s mercy. The Evidence was there, Saul didn’t have the faith to follow. Saul has been fired and though he may not know it, he is being replaced.

God speaks to us everyday, many do not want to hear what he has to say, others forget how to listen. He listens to our prayers when we find our way to him, through his Only Son Jesus. Jesus is our rescue from evil.

Stay Tuned…