1 Samuel Chapter 8: Verses 19-20 (NLT)
But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”
The people of Israel wanted to be like everyone else. God wanted them to be different – an example to the other nations. Instead, they pestered for a king like a petulant child wanting a toy. I remember as a youngster I would often utter the phrase, “Well everyone else is doing/getting/going…” if mum or dad said no to something I wanted. In return Mum’s response would be, “Well would you jump off a cliff just because everyone else was.” She wasn’t interested in ‘everyone else’, she wanted what she felt was best for me.
God doesn’t want us to be a carbon copy of someone else. He loves us each as individuals, and has a plan for each of us. We don’t need to go with the crowd. We need to trust God and allow Him to show us what His plan for us is.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for designing a plan that is best for me. Help me not to get caught up in what your plan is for anyone else. Thank You for Your goodness and grace to me. Amen.