Being Led by the Spirit and not by Sight

What can we learn from the Bible about the choices we make when we are led by what we see?

There’s something about being human that makes us crave what we can see, touch, and understand. It’s as if we’re wired to think that having something tangible will solve our problems or make us feel secure. The Israelites knew this feeling all too well. In 1 Samuel 12, we see a nation gripped by fear and uncertainty, begging for a king because everyone else had one. They wanted someone strong, visible—someone they could follow without question. Samuel’s response? Not exactly what they wanted to hear.

Samuel, ever the honest prophet, laid it all out. He reminded them of how God had been with them through thick and thin. How He had rescued them from Egypt, guided them through the wilderness, and handed their enemies into their hands. “Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he did to you and to your fathers” (1 Samuel 12:7, NKJV). God had been their King all along. But fear has a way of making us forget the faithfulness of God. When the Israelites looked at the nations around them, they saw mighty kings and strong armies. When they looked at themselves, they saw weakness and vulnerability.

So they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul. But Samuel didn’t gloss over the decision. He warned them: choosing a king wasn’t just about having a figurehead. It was about replacing God as their ultimate leader. Samuel said, “And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king” (1 Samuel 12:12, NKJV). In that moment, Samuel wasn’t just addressing a political issue—he was pointing out a deeper heart problem. The Israelites wanted something they could see, someone they could rally behind, forgetting that the God who led them out of Egypt was still very much in charge.

It’s easy to judge the Israelites for being fickle or fearful. But don’t we do the same thing? We look around and see successful people with steady jobs, perfect families, and well-ordered lives. We long for what they have, convinced that if we just get that next promotion, meet the right person, or achieve a certain status, we’ll feel secure. We crave the visible, the tangible, the obvious, and in the process, we risk pushing God to the periphery.

But God doesn’t give up on us when we make poor choices. Samuel makes that clear too. Even after the people’s demand for a king, Samuel reassures them that God is still with them. He says, “For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people” (1 Samuel 12:22, NKJV). That’s the heart of grace: God remains present, even when we get distracted by what we can see rather than who He is.

As I read this passage, I’m challenged to think about the places in my own life where I might be replacing God with something or someone else. Am I seeking security in my job or relationships rather than in Him? Am I trying to be led by what looks right or feels safe instead of by the Spirit’s prompting? It’s worth taking the time to ask ourselves these questions.

The truth is, being led by the Spirit means trusting in God’s character rather than our circumstances. It means remembering His past faithfulness and holding onto that when the present looks uncertain. Samuel’s message to Israel wasn’t just a history lesson—it was a call to live differently, to remember that the God who has brought us this far isn’t about to abandon us now.

So, the next time you find yourself longing for something you can see and hold onto, remember that the real source of security isn’t in kings or careers or connections—it’s in God Himself. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Him, even when the world around us clamours for something more visible. The Spirit leads us not by what we see but by who He is—and that’s more than enough.