I Samuel 15:11-13
“Samuel was angry when he heard this. He prayed his anger and disappointment all through the night. He got up early in the morning to confront Saul but was told, ‘Saul’s gone. He went to Carmel to set up a victory monument in his own honor, and then was headed for Gilgal.’ By the time Samuel caught up with him, Saul had just finished an act of worship, having used Amalekite plunder for the burnt offerings sacrificed to GOD. As Samuel came close, Saul called out, ‘GOD’s blessings on you! I accomplished GOD’s plan to the letter!’”
“Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night. Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, ‘Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on the Gilgal.’ When Samuel finally found him Saul greeted him cheerfully. ‘May the Lord bless you,’ he said. ‘I have carried out the Lord’s command!’”
God told Saul, through Samuel, to destroy all living things in the Amalekite camps. Saul fudged. Samuel was heart sick at Saul’s failure to follow God’s explicit directions. Samuel took his hurt and anger to God. God can handle our emotions.
We, as Saul, like to think ourselves qualified to adjust God’s commands according to the situation. But the God of absolutes who reveals himself in scripture calls us to obedience, not to massage his commands. I know my own potential for failure. I prefer to obey and trust God’s unchanging faithfulness to sort out me and my messes.
The kind of destruction Saul was asked to orchestrate seems barbaric to us. These were barbaric times. Sometimes a situation is so evil, there is no possibility of redemption and total destruction is the only way forward. Only God can see every heart so only he would know. We must trust him in this.
Lord, some things in your Word are hard to make sense of. Work through the good brain you gave me to increase my understanding. Give me eyes to recognize evil and show me how to deal with it.