THE KING IN HIDING
"20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord answered, “There he is, hidden among the equipment.” 23 So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!” 1 Samuel 10: 20-24.
The nation of Israel was first ruled by judges, like Gideon, Samson, Jephthah and Samuel. But the people were not satisfied; they wanted to be like the other nations. The people requested for a king. And God granted their request. He assigned Samuel to anoint Saul, the son of Kish as Israel's first King. Saul had many of the enviable qualities people look for in a would be leader: tall, handsome, and from a wealthy family. He was someone the whole nation could, after all, be proud of.
Before the event at Mizpah, Samuel had anointed Saul privately. There was no question about his calling But on the day he was to be presented to the people, Saul was missing. When the time came, a day that might well be compared to a presidential inauguration, Saul was nowhere to be seen.
The people of Israel conducted a search, but nothing came out of it. So they pray, and God informed them that Saul was hiding among the baggage. The New King James translated it as "equipment." The King James just says "among the stuff." Other Bible translations used "supplies" or "baggage." The word ‘baggage’ here could mean weapons, food, clothing, or furniture. What a tragedy! The anointed King of Israel was hiding among the stuff instead of taking his place on the throne. The tallest, most handsome, and most favoured man in the land was hiding in the midst of the luggage. But what could have caused this? Maybe it was due to excessive humility. Perhaps Saul was afraid to lead. Was he so shy and not wanting to take up the mantle of leadership? Maybe Saul didn't think he was worthy to be king. Was it inferiority complex or cowardice? What could have made Saul to hide when he was to be enthroned? The Scripture does not provide us with clear reasons or motives, but the fact is, the anointed King, was hiding among baggage.
ARE YOU HIDING?
To hide is to conceal. It denotes that which is secret, private, and inaccessible. To hide is to put out of sight. It is to prevent something from being seen. To hide is to cover. It is to suppress. To hide is to keep underground. It is to shield. To hide is to put in obscurity. It is to confine and limit. You may have been hidden, suppressed, or in obscurity, but when your set time comes, nothing whatsoever can hinder you. It's your turn to testify! It's your time in the limelight! For too long you have been hidden, denied, delayed and held down, but your time is now. They have conspired to cover your glory from shinning, but now is the time for your light to shine. The veil covering you is being removed now, in the mighty name of Jesus! You are about to step out of obscurity into limelight.
Saul's time in the limelight came, but he was hiding in the baggage. Are you hiding from the light? You will never rise to your highest potentials, as long as you insist on hiding amidst your baggage.
Sometimes God will hide you.
There are times He takes us out of the limelight for a season, even for years, in other to work in us. God will take you out of the limelight if the enemy is working to destroy you. Jesus as a baby was hidden in Egypt when King Herod was after his life. Moses was hidden as a baby. Hebrews 11:23. God will hide you in other to develop your character. He will hide you to protect your destiny.
Unlike Saul, David was anointed, but he didn’t go straight to the throne. God hid him until the time was right. David spent many years in obscurity until God elevated him. Do you feel obscure? A time when your hard work is not recognized. To be obscure is to be unknown, unimportant and downgraded. But if you will be patient and let God finish His work in you, your time will come. When God hides you, He's preparing you for the limelight. Don't be in a hurry, wait for His timing. Work daily on improving yourself. Keep serving in obscurity as God prepares you for royalty.
Sometimes we go into hiding because we are insecure or filled with shame and guilt over something we did. These are times we run away from our callings and destinies. Like Saul, we run anywhere but in the direction God has purposed for us. But if He has called you to something bigger and the time is right, you don't need to hide. You're not alone. Deuteronomy 31:6.
Are you running away from your God-given assignments? Like Saul, are you hiding in the baggage? The baggage can be physical thing to hide among, but also stuff that we carry with us.
WE ALL CARRY BAGGAGE:
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:1. We don’t need to carry these unnecessary weight, and yet, we all do it. Some baggage are emotional or relational. Some may be spiritual. These baggage contains every excuse or reason we can come up with for not doing all that God calls us to do. It contains every mistake we've ever made. The baggage consist of every bad decision. It contains painful events and hurtful relationships. The baggage consist of every hurtful word that has ever been spoken over your life. It could be the fear of failure, or the negative mindset we have about ourselves that were placed there by the unkind words and actions of others. The baggage is a source of pain from our past that can affect our present and future. It is heavy and painful to carry. But in order to move forward into the new beginnings God has prepared for us, we need to come out of the stuff and leave our baggage behind.
What is your own baggage?
Is it hurts and wounds?
Is your low self-esteem?
Is it sins that have left scars in your mind and heart?
Is yours abuses?
Is it anger you feel justified in harbouring grudges or bitterness? A grudge is a prison cell.
Is your baggage jealousy?
Is it past rejections that stops your from making new steps?
Is it hatred?
Is your baggage condemnation?
Is it guilt? Guilt is like holding a grudge against yourself. Forgive.
Is your baggage shame?
Maybe you have some crippling issues from your past. It could be that you’re carrying baggage from a separation or divorce. Maybe there is some sort of childhood abuse or from a bad relationship. Perhaps it is the weight of a serious medical condition, a financial crisis, or a family problem. The baggage you hides in or carry around may be what’s stopping you from moving forward. It may be what's hindering you from becoming the person God wants you to be. Baggage weighs us down! It blinds our vision, so we can’t see well. Baggage distract us from more important things.
Are you using the baggage in your life as an excuse to avoid what God is calling you to do? It could be a call to write a book, go out on mission, or start a ministry. Don't let your gifts die in hiding!
WHAT TO DO?
1. Confront the past:
There is no point in hoping that you could change it. If you will not let it go, you are only stopping yourself from receiving God's best. Let the past go. Confront it. Face the harm done to you and the harm you have done to others by practicing forgiveness.
2. Forgive. It will do you more good than it will do to those hurting you.
3. Be aware of your thoughts. Don't waste your energy on negative thinking.
4. Choose your friends wisely. Surround yourself with people who will nourish and build you up.
5. Go to God in prayer.
Bring your emotions to Him. Ask for his insight. Pray for guidance. Ask Him to heal your hurts.
6. Read God’s Word daily. Acts 17:11.
6. Press on.
"13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14. The problem is that if we do not deal with our baggage, it becomes a barrier. It can affect your heath, success and destiny.
Stand tall and remind yourself that nothing you can do or say will change the past. The only person you can change is yourself. You can change the choices you make in life. Start today.
7. Stir up God's gifts in you.
God doesn’t want His gifts in you to be dormant; He wants you to put them to use that you might bring pro?t and glory to Him. God will give you the courage, strength, and passion to use your gifts.
8. Have faith in God.
Are you afraid to come out of your shell and baggage? Don't be afraid. Believe in God to help you. Trust Him with all your heart and answer the call today. God will never abandon you.
THE BAGGAGE HANDLER:
“Cast your cares upon me, because I care for you” 1 Peter 5:7. Casting is the act of hurling or pitching something away. Jesus tells us to come to Him and find the rest our soul needs. Spend some time developing your relationship with Christ. He's the only One who can handle baggage. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. O Lord, purge me of every form of disobedience and self-centeredness, in Jesus name.
2. My Father, show me how to fan into flame the gift You have given me, in Jesus name.
3. Stir up every gift in me, O Lord, that has been hidden, dormant or ignored, in Jesus name.
4. O Lord, anoint my head with fresh oil to do great exploits, in Jesus name.
5. Thank God for answering your prayers.
