Saul, David, Gideon and Moses were running errands for family when God called them. It is possible that doing what our family is asking us to do today is smack in the middle of God's will. Obedience is the avenue to God's purpose for us all. Let’s dig a little deeper in their stories and see how we can be encouraged as we serve our families today in the name of the Lord who called us.
Saul was the first king of Israel. Samuel was the last judge who heard the people’s cry for a king. God gave them Saul. The guy looked like a King. He was tall, he was handsome and he was running errands for his dad. Not a very kingly behavior but that’s what he was doing.
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. 1 Samuel 9:3-4 (NASB)
God had a purpose for this very annoying errand. It was through the simple act of looking for donkeys that Saul found his life purpose: to be anointed the first king of Israel. If you read the rest of the chapter you will see that God used the supernatural to bring His purposes to pass. Here’s what’s even more interesting: Saul had to go back to serving His dad before he officially became the king.
Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen, and he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh. 1 Samuel 11:5
God sent him back to serving his father before he took on the responsibilities of being a king. My friend, remember that honoring your father and your mother (Exodus 20:12) was God’s idea and Saul knew that very well.
David, who was the next king of Israel was also on an errand for his father when God called him. All his brothers were out of the picture when it came to being king so here is when the magic happened for David:
And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”
1 Samuel 16:11-12 (NASB)
David had all the right of having what some come “inferiority complex.” He was not considered to be the king when Samuel showed up and then he had to go back to tend sheep when it was all said and done. I’m glad that’s not how God sees those who called. He wants obedience and he is shaping you for His purpose even when the task seems to be menial.
Gideon is a favorite Bible guy of mine because he was less than ideal in so many ways. God still used him. Notice that he was in his father’s property, doing work to benefit the family when God shows up and calls him.
Then the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites. Judges 6:11 (nasb)
He also had (in the name of the Lord) to have quite the intervention in his father’s property because of idol worship. I gather that Gideon decided to obey God and to follow Him wholeheartedly, flaws and all. I can’t help but noticed that it all started when he was helping his folks.
Last but not least, consider God’s servant Moses.
“Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” Exodus 3:1-3 (NASB)
Moses had fled from Egypt and he had started a new life for himself far away from his real family and his adopted family. He was serving his family of choice. Moses was pasting the flock of his father-in-law when God shows up for the first time. I choose to believe that he just didn’t drop shepherding because he was called. Sheep equaled money so I’m pretty sure he finished his errand until it was time to go to Egypt and get started in the amazing work of deliverance God called him to do.
You and I have been called by God too. The thing that most people on top do not tell you is that it is not glamorous. In my case, it included going to the bakery as a child to buy bread for my grandmother. They wisely told me back then to do it with a good attitude unto the Lord so I thought about that as I walked half a mile for one loaf. Now that I am an adult I still run errands for my family, mostly my husband and kids. I am not famous for scrubbing floors with a happy heart. God reminded me recently that obedience would pave my way to prosperity. I put my head down and kept scrubbing.
I have accept these as my silent years. They are difficult. I know you feel invisible and insignificant. Trust me, there is power in the silence years.
You are as a seed, planted in the darkness of the richest soil. God is the master gardener and He has a purpose for you and I. Take as an example Saul, David, Gideon and Moses who were running errands for family when God called them: there’s more coming. Obedience and honor will pave the way.
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