The Will of God

We Misconceive Sin

Have you ever had someone do something you’ve asked them to do incompletely?

Maybe they got a part of it right, but they didn’t do everything you asked

Or, they did more than you asked, but it happened to be something you didn’t want done

When Paul was writing Romans 12:2, I believe He was thinking of this situation

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

When we read this passage, we often talk about one of the two topics

The command not to conform

The command to renew your mind

Both of these are emphasized here, but the last part often sticks out to me

What is the will of God

Have you ever been here?

Do you ever wonder what God wants you to do?

Do you ever question how God wants you to live?

For years, I have been here

Wondering what God wants me to do, either in a specific situation or in general

I feel the raw pain of uncertainty

I can’t change all of that with my simple words, but I can talk about His will

For this, we need to go back to the book of 1 Samuel

Call of Command

We will be in 1 Samuel 15

As a background, God has been leading the people of Israel through the Judges and prophets

The book of Judges is a repeat of excitement followed by sadness

The people of Israel call out to God to give them a king

God is upset with this, as they are supposed to be different than the surrounding nations, but He agrees to give them one

God has the prophet Samuel ordain Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin

1 Samuel 15:1–3 ESV

And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”

God raised up Saul to lead Israel on His behalf, with His direction

God gave clear instructions to Saul, leaving no room for compromise

Notice, God is enacting justice for Israel through this command

This is meant to be a blessing for Israel!

Likewise, through the Bible, God gives us clear and unequivocal commands

When we reach a similar point of Saul, we ought do listen to the word of God

Compromising Obedience

1 Samuel 15:4–9 ESV

So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.

Saul begins to fulfill God’s plan

1 Samuel 15:4–9 ESV

Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

He shows mercy to those who helped Israel, warning them not to be destroyed with the Amalekites

1 Samuel 15:4–9 ESV

And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword.

God gives Saul victory, wiping out the Amalekites in the land

1 Samuel 15:4–9 ESV

But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them.

But Saul

When we see but God in the Bible, it is usually a sign of hope and love

We sin, but God forgives

When we see but man, we are about to witness sin

Saul and his men spared the King of the Amalekites, and the best of their flocks

1 Samuel 15:4–9 ESV

All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

Notice what they destroyed

All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

Saul kept the best, and destroyed the worst

Sure, Saul destroyed most of the Amalekites,

But he spared Agag

“probably to enjoy the glory of displaying so distinguished a captive, and, in like manner, the most valuable portions of the booty, as the cattle” (Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 184.)

Here, by complying with God partially but ignoring His full will, Saul shows his selfishness, love of power, and unfitness of being king.

Confronted by Sin

Hope in Jesus

How we Respond

Disobedience in the Bible

Cain’s disobedience leading to nations

Noah (Shem’s) disobedience leading to Canaan

Abraham’s disobedience

God isn’t wanting us to obey just to obey

He has a plan, and often has out best interest in mind