11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel.
Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
13 “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
It may be difficult to trust God in difficult situations, and when you feel your resources slipping away. Saul became impatient with God’s timing. He substituted the ritual in place of faith in God. Be careful and do not allow impatience to drive you to act too quickly so you miss God’s blessing in your life. God often uses delays to test obedience and patience. Saul then glossed over his sin. He tried to justify his impatient actions. By trying to hide his sin, Saul lost his kingship. God knows our true motives. God knows what is best. God will forgive, restore, and bless only when you are honest about sin.
