Numbers 14:26-27
King James Version
26 And the Lord spake unto Moses
and unto Aaron, saying,
27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation,
which murmur against me?
I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel,
which they murmur against me.
The Bible is replete with stories of GOD's love for His people.
Then Israel, GOD's people, sin against Him.
Whether Jew, or Gentile, we are all a forgetful lot.
Not to mention an ungrateful lot.
One story stands out.
Even as there are too many stories of ingratitude.
But this story pertains to a prophet, his sons, and GOD's people.
Even a prophet's sons become foolish.
Samuel had two sons:
1 Samuel 8:1-2
King James Version
8 And it came to pass,
when Samuel was old,
that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel;
and the name of his second, Abiah:
they were judges in Beersheba.
Only thing?
They were so unlike him.
1 Samuel 8:3
King James Version
3 And his sons walked not in his ways,
but turned aside after lucre,
and took bribes,
and perverted judgment.
Seeing Samuel's sons were not sterling examples (as if they were), God's people demand for a king:
1 Samuel 8:4-5
King James Version
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together,
and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5 And said unto him,
Behold, thou art old,
and thy sons walk not in thy ways:
now make us a king
to judge us like all the nations.
How did Samuel react?
What was his response?
1 Samuel 8:6
King James Version
6 But the thing displeased Samuel,
when they said,
Give us a king to judge us.
And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.
How about GOD?
How did the LORD respond to the people's demand?
1 Samuel 8:7
King James Version
7 And the Lord said unto Samuel,
Hearken unto the voice of the people
in all that they say unto thee:
for they have not rejected thee,
but they have rejected me,
that I should not reign over them.
Further, God warned Samuel:
1 Samuel 8:8
King James Version
8 According to all the works which they have done
since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt
even unto this day,
wherewith they have forsaken me,
and served other gods,
so do they also unto thee.
Knowing the foolishness in man, the LORD tells Samuel what to do:
1 Samuel 8:9
King James Version
9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice:
howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them,
and shew them the manner of the king
that shall reign over them.
GOD commanded Samuel to warn His foolish people:
1 Samuel 8:11-18
King James Version
11 And he said,
This will be the manner of the king
that shall reign over you:
He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself,
for his chariots, and to be his horsemen;
and some shall run before his chariots.
12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands,
and captains over fifties;
and will set them to ear his ground,
and to reap his harvest,
and to make his instruments of war,
and instruments of his chariots.
13 And he will take your daughters
to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards,
and your oliveyards, even the best of them,
and give them to his servants.
15 And he will take the tenth of your seed,
and of your vineyards,
and give to his officers, and to his servants.
16 And he will take your menservants,
and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men,
and your asses, and put them to his work.
17 He will take the tenth of your sheep:
and ye shall be his servants.
18 And ye shall cry out in that day
because of your king which ye shall have chosen you;
and the Lord will not hear you in that day.
Do you think that worked?
Did the people heed GOD's warning, through Samuel?
Let's find out:
1 Samuel 8:19-20
King James Version
19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey
the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay;
but we will have a king over us;
20 That we also may be like all the nations;
and that our king may judge us,
and go out before us,
and fight our battles.
Foolish, foolish man.
We really have no vision at all.
And hardly any gratitude in the bones of our body.
As always, GOD will have the last say.
And man will have to bear the consequences.
1 Samuel 8:21-22
King James Version
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people,
and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.
22 And the Lord said to Samuel,
Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.
And Samuel said unto the men of Israel,
Go ye every man unto his city.
Was that the end of the story?
The next post gives more detail.
Including the post after that.
Related material:
Image: Free Bible Images
Updated 20 October 2023
