18 March | Teens
«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.» 1 Samuel 8: 7
The people of Israel made a very different request to Samuel, the prophet: they wanted a king to rule over them, just as the other nations around them. God, through Samuel, tried to explain that they already had a King, who was God Himself, but they insisted and insisted. They wanted to be like everyone else; to have a human king who would lead them in battle and rule over them.
God warned the people of the consequences of having such a king: he would take the best of their fields, sons and daughters to serve him, and even take some of their crops and flocks. But even so, the people did not change their minds. They were hard-headed people! They wanted a king at all costs, even if it meant losing some of their freedom and sharing their blessings.
God granted their request, but this decision brought many problems and challenges to the people of Israel. They learned, the hard way, that rejecting God's leadership and wanting to be like other nations came at a high price. We also need to be careful what we ask for. Sometimes we want to be like other people, but we forget that our purpose here on this earth is so much greater!
Take Action
This week, think about the times you've wanted something just because everyone around you wanted it too, even though you knew it might not be the best choice. Try to remember that being different and following what God has for us can be much better than simply following the crowd.