Once when Saul went into battle against the Amalekites he was told “‘put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey'” (1 Samuel 15:3). Instead Saul; “spared Agag (the king) and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good” (Verse 9). Disobedience!
Today we would think that was a pretty harsh command and we wonder why God would order it and make such a big deal about it. But Saul lost his crown for disobeying so it was a pretty big deal to God. Saul should have understood full well because the Lord told him what it was all about.
The judgment against Amalek had been a long time coming. The Lord said; “I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt” (Verse 2). God was avenging a wrong that had taken place centuries beforehand when Moses held his hands up in prayer all day so the battle would be won.
God was fulfilling a promise from the past. “The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation” (Exodus 17:16). Saul didn’t care. He not only disobeyed but showed great disrespect.
We must never take such a cavalier attitude about obeying the way Saul did. When God commands us to do something, He’s not saying “pretty please,” and it would be better for us if we don’t say, “but WHY Lord?”
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