What does Saul's hiding reveal about human nature and God's plans? The Moment in Context • “Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was selected. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he could not be found.” (1 Samuel 10:21) • The next verse completes the picture: “So they inquired further of the LORD, ‘Has the man come here yet?’ And the LORD said, ‘He has hidden himself among the supplies.’” (1 Samuel 10:22) • God had already anointed Saul privately through Samuel (10:1). Now, at the public lot-casting, Saul is missing—deliberately hidden among the baggage. Saul’s Hiding: A Mirror of the Human Heart • Awareness of inadequacy – Saul’s first recorded words after being told of kingship were, “Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes?” (9:21). – Like Moses who said, “Who am I?” (Exodus 3:11), Saul feels unfit and shrinks back. • Fear of public scrutiny – Adam and Eve hid among the trees after sin (Genesis 3:8). Even without overt sin yet, fallen human nature defaults to hiding when exposed to a holy calling. • Desire to control circumstances – By hiding, Saul tries to manage events, delaying the moment when life will change. Humanity often stalls when God’s direction threatens comfort. • Reliance on flesh, not faith – Though he had just received the Spirit’s empowering (10:10), Saul looks at himself, not the God who called him. God’s Sovereign Plan Still Unfolds • God reveals Saul’s location – The same Lord who directed the lots now pinpoints the hiding place. His knowledge overrides human evasiveness. • Public confirmation despite private reluctance – “They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of them.” (10:23). God ensures the right man is presented, fulfilling His word literally. • Divine purposes proceed through imperfect vessels – Gideon threshed in a winepress (Judges 6:11), Jonah fled to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3), yet God’s mission advanced. Saul’s episode highlights that human hesitation cannot derail divine intent. • Foreshadowing future conflict – Saul’s early insecurity anticipates later disobedience (1 Samuel 15). Unchecked fear can blossom into rebellion, stressing the need for continual surrender. Lessons for Us Today • God’s call may expose hidden fears, but His grace supplies what He demands (2 Corinthians 9:8). • Hiding delays joy; obedience releases purpose (James 1:22-25). • The Lord knows every “baggage” compartment we choose; better to step forward than be brought out (Psalm 139:7-12). • Even when we falter, God’s plan stands firm: “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29). |
    |