Today we will see how Saul rescues Jabesh Gilead. Of course, it was because of God’s supernatural help.
We have discussed how Saul became Israel’s first anointed King. What did he do first? He went back home to Gilead and began tending to his Father’s flocks.
No big deal, right? I doubt many knew what had happened.
WELCOME
Welcome to the COME AS A CHILD BIBLE STUDY which we present at The IN SEASON Lifestyle blog every Thursday. We are patiently and slowly walking through the scriptures together. Our focus is the heart of a child seeking to know more of their adored Father. Today we are studying 1 Samuel Chapter 11.
If you wish to review last week’s lesson you may find it here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/saul-is-publicly-proclaimed-king-of-israel/.
ALONG COMES NAHASH
An Ammonite named Nahash decided that he would besiege Jabesh Gilead. As this process began, we also begin to see and understand how weak the men from Jabesh Gilead were. They didn’t want any more war. Fighting Nahash, seemed totally impossible to them. The men from Jabesh decided to try to talk to Nahash to work out some way to have peace. They wanted peace even if it was costly for the Israelites.
These weak and worn men of Jabesh said to Nahash; “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.”
The Ammonites were known for being a violent and unreasonable culture. I can just see Nahash laughing to himself in front of his men. He probably winked with a snare on his face as he answered back to Israel; “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.”
You know he was very serious with this demand. Israelites with right eyes out would not be very good with a bow. They would be weak and not able to defend themselves in battle.
WEAK AND WORN HUMANS
Can you imagine what a shocking reply this would have been? However, the men of Jabesh Gilead were weak and worn down. They could not bear the thought of another battle. This was a typical battle technique of the Ammonites. You can read more about that here: https://www.gotquestions.org/Ammonites.html
Their reply to Nahash was shocking. Their words were “Give us seven days so we can send messengers through Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.”
ASKING THE ENEMY FOR HELP
Tired and worn down humans can be so illogical. They were asking the enemy for help.
Are you as surprised at this cowardly answer as I am?
Who would appear so weak as to give their only plan for protection into the hands of the enemy and then ask his permission to carry it out? What an amazingly awful answer!
Whatever happened to turning to God for protection?
SAUL RECEIVED THE MESSAGE
So this weak request was allowed. Soon messengers came to Saul with the plight of the men of Jabesh Gilead. Saul was returning from the fields with his father’s oxen. He saw everyone weeping in distress. Surprised and dismayed, Saul asked what was wrong. The men standing around in deep sorrow repeated what the men of Jabesh had told them.
SAUL’S PLAN TO RESCUE JABESH GILEAD
When Saul heard the words they proclaimed, the Spirit of The Lord came upon him. It was powerful and he burned with anger.
Saul then did something unusual. He took a pair of oxen and cut them into pieces. Then he sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel proclaiming “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.”
The weeping of the locals stopped. In place of the weeping, the terror of the LORD fell upon the people who received the message from Saul. All of the people came together as one. Saul mustered them for battle at Bezek. Their numbers were 330,000 men. (30,000 of these men were from Judah.)
SAUL RESCUES JABESH GILEAD
The messengers were called again and given a return message to deliver: “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’”
So the message was delivered. The men of Jabesh were elated. To stall for time, they told the Ammonites “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”
In the meantime Saul separated his men into three divisions. During the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them. The battle went well into the middle of the next day.
SAUL IS GIVEN SUCCESS AND SUPPORT
Not two Ammonites were left together in the land. All survivors were scattered. Any Ammonites left had to survive on their own without help from their nation.
The men of Jabesh were so happy with Saul that they gave him great honor. Someone remembered those who had not supported Saul as King earlier. The men of Jabesh wanted to put the men who had refused to follow Saul to death. However; Saul stopped this. His words to the angry crowd were: , “No one will be put to death today, for this day the Lord has rescued Israel.”
What a great example of how a level-headed God ordained King can stop the foolishness of a crowd of worked-up emotionally charged men. Godly men are not ruled by the emotions of the soul, but the spirit. They learn self-control and stay level-headed at all times.
SAMUEL’S WORDS TO THE PEOPLE
Samuel had not lost touch with Saul. He had been present with the people and right in the middle of all of these important events. Finally, Samuel stepped up with a few words for the people too. He said: “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.”
From Samuel’s leadership, all the people gathered at Gilgal and made Saul their King in the presence of the Lord. They sacrificed fellowship offerings and held a great celebration.
Well, all of this is interesting history concerning Saul, Samuel and Israel. However; one cannot help but wonder; what on earth could all of this mean to us who are living today? Next Thursday we will explore that thought further.