By Tope Banso
“Now we want a king to be our leader, just like all the other nations. Choose one for us!” (1 Samuel 8:5b Contemporary English Version).
There is a tendency for human beings to value what they don’t have more than what they have. They cherish what they lack more than what they have. There is a longing in them for what is missing in their lives rather than enjoying what they already possess.
It appears that some people are often more attracted to do or have what is forbidden than what is allowed. In the Garden of Eden, God made every tree grow that was pleasant to the sight and good for food. However, that single tree God forbade them not to eat its fruit became most appealing to Eve, at the prompting of the serpent.
According to Genesis 2:8-9, “The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (New King James Version).
Verses 16-17 say, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (New King James Version).
God’s instruction was very clear. But when the serpent came into the garden, he spoke Eve into desiring what God had forbidden. Eve told the serpent that God said they could eat the fruit of the trees of the garden except the fruit of the tree, which was in the midst of the garden. She added to the command of God by saying that they must not touch it, lest they died.
The addition was not even the real problem. The real problem was that Eve believed the serpent’s lie instead of God’s truth! “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil'” (Genesis 3:4-5 New King James Version).
Eve wanted what God didn’t want her and Adam to have. God knew why He did not want them to eat fruit from that tree, but allowed them to eat fruit from any other tree in the Garden. The serpent sowed a seed of dissatisfaction in Eve.
Verses 6-7 say, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings” (New King James Version).
The glory departed! Disobedience exposed their nakedness. God had to come to their aid, replacing the leaves they had used to cover themselves with clothes made out of animal skins.
Don’t want what God doesn’t want you to have, no matter how good it appears to be. Trust God that He knows what is best for you. He knows why He doesn’t want you to have whatever He’s keeping away from you. Believe He is acting in your best interest, even if others have the same thing.
In 1 Samuel 8, the Israelites took advantage of the corrupt lifestyle of the children of Samuel, who was old, to ask for a king. “Now we want a king to be our leader, just like all the other nations. Choose one for us!” (1 Samuel 8:5b Contemporary English Version).
The Israelites seemed to have forgotten that they were God’s chosen people. They didn’t need a king like the other nations; they already had a king – the Almighty God.
Their request displeased Samuel and he prayed to God about it, but God knew long before then that they would make that request (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). He told Samuel to heed their voice for they had not rejected Samuel but Him, to reign over them. However, He told Samuel to solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who would reign over them (1Samuel 7-9).
Despite telling them this, the people insisted they wanted a king (verses 10-19). Samuel, as commanded by God, gave them a king. Israel had different kings as a united nation and a divided nation – Judah and Israel. Most of their kings, especially the kings of Israel, did evil in the eyes of God. The people also went into rebellion against God like their kings, most of the time, until the two kingdoms went into captivity.
God declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). He knows what will create problem for you in future or bless you. Don’t want what God doesn’t want you to have, no matter how seemingly good that thing is.
In the wilderness, the Bible says God granted the request of the Israelites but sent leanness into their soul (Psalm 106:15). The craving of the people or their greedy desire for meat is recorded in Numbers 11:4- 6.
The LORD told them, “You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the LORD who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?’” (Numbers 11:19-20 New King James Version).
The LORD struck with a plague, those who craved for meat. They died and were buried (verses 31-35). They were given the meat they craved for, which eventually killed the strongest and the best of their families (Psalm 78:29-31). Be careful!
In Deuteronomy 10:13, Moses told the Israelites to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes, which He commanded them for their good. God’s Word is for your own good. You’re not doing Him any favour by obeying it.
Don’t want what God doesn’t want you to have, though others may have them and they may not even be evil or bad.
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
PRAYER POINT: Father, let me not want what You don’t want me to have; let me be content with what is your will for me.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For over 250 in-depth and insightful messages by T.O. Banso, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪ Banso is a pastor and the head of
Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria, cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com
Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; WhatsApp No: +2349081295947