10/05/2024
“You can’t find godly comfort from worldly sources.”
BIBLE IN A YEAR STORY: GUIDANCE FROM THE MEDIUM
Where does your comfort come from? When things are confusing, where are you getting guidance and reassurance?
Where you find guidance determines your fate.
In this episode of Bible in a Year, we encounter one of the most troubling stories in Scripture.
Saul is paranoid and afraid of the united Philistine army marching against Israel. Since he’s far from God, he lacks comfort or guidance before the battle. So Saul seeks guidance from a forbidden source: a witch from Endor.
Saul's decision to consult a witch reflects his desperation and his distance from God. Instead of getting guidance from this witch, he comes face-to-face with his impending doom.
Saul asks the witch to summon the spirit of Samuel, the prophet who had died. When Samuel appears, he delivers a message of judgment, foretelling Saul's imminent demise and the downfall of his kingdom.
Saul sought comfort, but instead, he found dread.
This is the fate of anyone who has turned from God to prideful practices and worldly guidance. Saul's encounter with the witch of Endor is a sobering reminder of the dangers of turning away from God. Rather than trusting in God's sovereignty and seeking His guidance through repentance and obedience, Saul seeks answers from a forbidden source.
This event should challenge us to examine our hearts and priorities. In times of desperation, let us seek God's guidance through prayer, fellowship, and His Word. May we never turn away from God in search of quick fixes or easy answers, but instead, may we rely on Him alone as our source of strength and wisdom.
SCRIPTURE
¨Then Saul said to his attendants, 'Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.' 'There is one in Endor,' they said." - 1 Samuel 28:7
REFLECTION
Reflect on times when you have been tempted to seek answers from sources other than God. Consider the dangers of turning away from God's guidance in desperation. This week, commit to seeking God's wisdom through prayer and studying His Word, trusting in His sovereignty and provision. Pray for the strength to resist temptation, knowing God alone is our source of truth.