Have you ever been tempted to take matters into your own hands when things seemed hopeless—and wondered, ‘How do I keep faith and obey God even when the odds are stacked against me?’ Is it ever really worth acting out of fear or impatience rather than trusting God’s timing and guidance?
In 1 Samuel 13, we encounter a moment of crisis for King Saul. Faced with a formidable Philistine army, his own troops trembling with fear and scattering, Saul decides to take matters into his own hands. Instead of waiting for the prophet Samuel to arrive and make the sacrificial offering to God, Saul offers the burnt offering himself—a direct act of disobedience to God’s instructions. Just as he finishes, Samuel arrives and rebukes Saul. Because of his impatience and disobedience, God rejects him as king.
This passage powerfully reminds us of two vital principles: faith in God even when the odds seem impossible, and the importance of obedience over self-reliance.
Saul’s actions are understandable on the surface. His army is dwindling, the enemy is vast and intimidating, and Samuel appears to be late. To Saul, doing something seemed better than doing nothing. But what Saul fails to grasp is that God doesn’t operate on human logic or by worldly strength. God’s power is revealed in our obedience, not our control.
When Finances Run Dry
Imagine a modern scenario: a single mother working two jobs to support her children. Her hours have just been cut, bills are piling up, and she’s wondering how she’ll keep the lights on next month. She’s tried budgeting, cutting costs, even skipping meals so her kids can eat. Friends are suggesting quick fixes—taking on work that goes against her values, borrowing money from unsafe lenders, or cutting corners ethically just to survive.
She’s a Christian. She prays, she reads Scripture, she tries to remain faithful. But like Saul, she feels abandoned in her moment of crisis. It’s in these moments that the temptation to “take the offering into our own hands” is strongest.
But 1 Samuel 13 warns us that when we act outside of God’s will, even with good intentions, we risk losing the very things we hope to preserve. Saul didn’t lose the battle that day—but he lost his kingdom. Similarly, compromising our faith may get us through the short term, but we risk damaging what God is building in us for the long term.
Faith Over Fear
Trusting God does not mean ignoring reality. It means believing that He is greater than our reality. Faith calls us to wait, even when waiting seems foolish. Obedience calls us to walk uprightly, even when the path is narrow and steep.
That same single mother, choosing not to compromise her integrity, might discover God providing in unexpected ways—a neighbour offering a meal, a new job opening, a church stepping in to help. These “divine interventions” often come after we’ve chosen to wait on God and trust Him fully.
Saul teaches us what not to do. But Scripture also shows us others—like David, like Jesus—who waited, trusted, and obeyed, and saw God’s hand move mightily.
So whether you’re facing financial hardship, health struggles, relationship breakdowns, or any number of modern-day trials, 1 Samuel 13 urges you: Don’t panic. Don’t act out of fear. Wait on God. Trust in His timing. Obey His voice.
Because faith, not fear, is the foundation for victory.