God in your Wild Goose Chase
Hi!
I am Saul, son of Kish. Once, my dad’s donkeys got lost. So, he asked me to take with me a young man, go to nearby places, and look for the donkeys. That's why I went with a young man to the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the land of Shaalim, and the land of Benjamin. No traces of our donkeys! When we reached the land of Zuph, I said, "There is no point in searching further. Going back would be the best thing to do, else my father would stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us."
But the young man, who came with me, was determined. He told me that there was a highly respected prophet in the neighboring city and that whatever he said happened to a T. He believed that the prophet would be able to tell us where our donkeys were. I was a little concerned because I wondered if it was right to go to a renowned prophet and ask about donkeys, instead of spiritual insight. I came up with an excuse and said, "We have nothing to offer the prophet. The bread we brought is over, and we have no gift to give him". The young man would not give up; he told me that he had a small silver coin, which we could give the prophet so that he might tell us where to search. I reluctantly agreed.
We went toward the city where the prophet lived. On our way, we met a few girls who had come out of the city to draw water. We asked them about the prophet. They informed us that the prophet had just come to the city and was going a little ahead of us to take part in a feast. They also urged us to be quick so that we might meet him before he joined the feast.
So, we rushed, and as we neared the city, a man came out toward us. I approached him and asked him where the prophet was. I was taken aback when he told me that he was the prophet and asked us to accompany him to the feast. I could not disagree. He assured me that the next morning he would let me know all that was on my mind. He also told me not to worry about our donkeys as they had been found. Panic struck me because I had not shared anything with him about our donkeys. Then, shivers went down my spine when he said, "The future of Israel is in your hands." I was absolutely flabbergasted. However, I mustered some courage and revealed to him that I was a Benjaminite, the least tribe in all of Israel. I also indicated to him that my clan was the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. And I asked him why he would ever speak anything like that. He did not answer.
I followed him quietly, but I screamed in my mind. All along I thought that it was by mere chance I drifted to this city in search of my donkeys. But, it all seemed orchestrated toward something else. Knowing that the donkeys were found was a relief. But the mysterious words of the prophet, I could not take them in.
He took us to the hall where the feast was organized and directed me to occupy the head of the table and honored me above the thirty special guests who were assembled there. Then the prophet, Samuel, instructed the cook to bring the choice portion that he had already asked the cook to set aside for the guest of honor. The cook set the choice portion before me. Samuel told me that that was the appointed time for me to join those special guests, be their guest of honor, and eat the choice portion specially prepared for me. Thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to eat the choice portion. My mind had been crowded with thoughts about the lost donkeys for three days. Even in my wildest imagination, I had never dreamt of being the guest of honor at such an elite gathering. But I knew that what I experienced then was not a dream. The sudden turn of events had been so quick that I felt carried away by unseen arms into some mystical setting.
Then, Samuel took me to his house. I was exhausted, but I could only try to sleep that night. At daybreak the next morning, Samuel asked me to send the young man ahead of me so that I could wait and know the message from God. As I waited, Samuel took out a flask of oil, poured it on my head and kissed me. He said, "The Lord has anointed you to be prince over his people Israel. You will reign over the people of the Lord, and you will save them from their surrounding enemies." He gave me three signs to confirm that it was the Lord who had anointed me to be a prince over Israel. He also instructed me to go to Gilgal and wait for seven days. He told me that he would come there and tell me what I ought to do.
That very moment, when I left Samuel, I was completely transformed. Only the Sovereign God can explain what He did in me; I am not able to articulate that experience. Every single sign that Samuel gave me took place that day. I kept all these things a secret.
After seven days, Samuel came just as he had said and called the people of Israel together at Mizpah. He cast a lot before the people of Israel and chose the tribe of Benjamin; then he chose the clan of the Matrites; and finally he chose me. I was not ready for this, so I ran away and hid. When the people sought me and did not find me, they asked the Lord again. The Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” They ran toward the baggage and took me from there. And when I stood, I was taller than all of them. Samuel declared to the people, "This is the one chosen by the Lord. There is no one like him among our people." Then all the people shouted, "Long live the king!"
Are you searching for something that is very elusive? Do you feel that you are in a wild goose chase? Have you lost all hope of finding that something you have been frantically looking for? Don’t lose hope. God is very much there amidst what you may consider a wild goose chase. He is not a passive observer. He is actively involved in your chase, directing you and accomplishing His great purposes for you.
None of His purposes can be thwarted. No one can annul it. When He stretches out his Hand, no one can turn it back. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ask or think, through His power that works in you. According to all His good pleasure, all His desire, and all His will, He will fulfill His purpose for you!
For those who love God, even wild goose chases work together for good for they have been called according to His purpose!
The First King of Israel,
Saul
I Samuel 9 and 10
For further reading:
Job 42:2, Isaiah 14:27, Ephesians 3: 20, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 55:11, Daniel 4:35, Psalm 138:8, Romans 8:28
