Connect 1 Samuel 9:20 with Proverbs 3:5-6 on trusting God's direction. Setting the scene in 1 Samuel 9:20 • “As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And for whom is all Israel longing, if not for you and all your father’s house?” (1 Samuel 9:20) • Saul is searching for missing donkeys, an ordinary errand that leads him to the prophet Samuel. • Unknown to Saul, God has already chosen him to be Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 9:16–17). • The lost livestock, the three-day timetable, and Samuel’s prior revelation all demonstrate God’s invisible orchestration. A surprising revelation of God’s guidance • What seems trivial—finding donkeys—becomes the doorway to Saul’s calling. • God addresses Saul’s practical worry (“do not worry about them”) before unveiling a much greater purpose. • The sequence shows that God’s direction often unfolds while we handle everyday responsibilities (cf. Genesis 24:27; Ruth 2:3). Proverbs 3:5–6: the principle behind the story • “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6) • Three commands: – Trust entirely. – Refuse self-reliance. – Acknowledge God in every arena. • One promise: God will direct, smooth, and straighten the path. Bringing the passages together • Saul leaned on his own understanding—searching region after region—yet God had already resolved the donkey problem. • Samuel’s prophetic word echoes Proverbs 3: God had straightened Saul’s path toward kingship even while Saul was focused on livestock. • The convergence of the two texts teaches: – God’s guidance precedes our awareness. – Ordinary duties are arenas for extraordinary direction. – Worry fades when we trust the One who sees the larger map (Matthew 6:31–33). Practicing trust today • Commit your plans and routines to the Lord each morning (Psalm 37:5). • When delays or detours arise, view them as possible setups for divine appointments (Acts 8:26–35). • Replace anxious thoughts with specific memories of past guidance (1 Samuel 17:37; Philippians 4:6–7). • Seek godly counsel, as Saul unknowingly did through his servant and Samuel (Proverbs 15:22; James 1:5). Key takeaways • God can use lost donkeys—or any everyday concern—to lead into His greater purpose. • Trusting God’s direction means surrendering both the trivial and the significant. • Aligning with Proverbs 3:5–6 positions us to recognize His hand, just as Saul did when Samuel spoke. |
    |