August 21st, 2012

Are You Hiding In The Baggage?

At a difficult time in Israel's history, God raised up Samuel as a priest and
prophet to lead them.  God used Samuel's prayers for Israel to deliver them from enemy armies. (1 Sam. 7)  As Samuel grew old, the leaders of Israel decided they no longer wanted Samuel as their leader.  They wanted a king like all the other nations (1 Sam. 8:6).   Samuel delivered God's warning that a king would tax and oppress the people and they would become slaves of the king they would choose, but the people refused to listen so God gave them what they wanted.

Their first king was Saul.  God would annoint him and use him to deliver the Israelites.  However, when it came time for Samuel to anoint Saul as king, he was no where to be found (1 Sam. 10:17-21).  The Lord was consulted as to Saul's whereabouts and the LORD said, "He has hidden himself among the baggage." (1 Sam. 10:22)

Even though Saul had been equipped and empowered for the task, he was hiding in fear.  The emotional baggage from his past fed a disabling fear and insecurity in his life that resulted in him repeated reacting out of fear which resulted in disobedience and bondage in his life.  He never became the man God wanted him to be because he was "hiding in the baggage" of his unresolved past.

Are you hiding in the baggage of an unresolved past?  Is there an unresolved emotional wound or sin issue that keeps you from becoming all that God intends for you to become?  In Matt. 11:28-30 the Lord invites us to step out of our hiding place and come to Him with our baggage .  He promises "Come unto me; all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (peace).  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find ret for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."