Chasing Donkeys

The mission was clear. The donkeys were missing and Kish sent his son to Saul to find them. Saul and a servant looked and looked but came up empty handed. They traveled from city to city but did not find the donkeys. They chased after those donkeys for three days.

They finally ended up in the same town as the prophet Samuel. They decided to ask for Samuel's help. God had something else in mind. One day before God had revealed to Samuel that a man would come to him from the tribe of Benjamin. Saul haled from the tribe of Benjamin.

For three days Saul chased donkeys. He looked everywhere. He went from town to town and never did find those donkeys. While all of that took place God worked behind the scenes to accomplish a grander purpose for the nation of Israel than chasing donkeys.

Samuel had prepared a sacrifice and a feast this day. Though he did not know it, Saul was to be the guest of honor. He sat right next to Samuel the most powerful and influential man in all of Israel. Everyone knew Samuel was a prophet and heard from God. Samuel had a fresh word from God which implicated Saul.

From Saul's perspective he chased donkeys and did not succeed. Not exciting. Not necessarily fun. Not even important in the big scheme of things. Yet God had a sovereign design for it. From God's perspective, revealed to Samuel, Saul did not just chase donkeys. He chased donkeys to get him to where Samuel would anoint him as the ruler of Israel.  This whole story can be found in the ninth chapter of the book of I Samuel.

In I Samuel 10:1, Samuel anointed Saul as the ruler over all Israel. How many times in life do we chase donkeys thinking we are wasting our time when God is at work behind the scenes in ways we could never fathom. God hand picked Saul, a handsome and tall young man. Saul had humility. He chased donkeys not realizing he was a on a special assignment from God.

I do not know what donkeys you are chasing. Moses and David tended sheep when God suddenly showed up to reveal His special assignment for them. Peter fished when Jesus called him to become a fisher of men. Saul sat horseback on a trip to Damascus when God interrupted his life and plans. Saul chased donkeys.

Many times it feels like we are chasing donkeys but God may have a wiser and more profound design in mind. Saul went from chasing donkeys to being anointed king in a span of three days. What might He have in mind for you and me. May we never downplay the importance of chasing donkeys to get us where He wants us. May we never doubt an infinitely wise God can even factor chasing donkeys into His unfolding drama and Kingdom purposes.