“The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul,.. ‘Go and look for the donkeys.’ And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.
“When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, ‘Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.’ But he said, ‘There is a man of God in this city..; all that he says comes true… Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.’.. So they went up to the city… [and] saw Samuel coming out toward them…
“Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: ‘Tomorrow… I will send to you a man from Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel…’ When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, ‘Here is the man of whom I spoke to you!’.. Then Saul approached Samuel… Samuel answered Saul, ‘Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I… will tell you all that is on your mind. As for your donkeys.., they have been found…’
“So Saul ate with Samuel that day… and he lay down to sleep. At the break of dawn… Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul,.. ‘Stop.., that I may make known to you the word of God.’
“Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, ‘Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord.'” 1 Samuel 9:3-6,14-20a,24c-10:1
It all started with lost donkeys, and orchestrated by the sovereign hand of God Almighty, ended with young Saul being anointed first prince over Israel. What Saul thought was a short-term errand God intended for long-term transformation. Saul set out to obey his father’s request that God had planned for far greater influence. The search would get him to Zuph to the city of Samuel to whom God had announced the real purpose of his journey. And what a surprise it was. (1 Samuel 10:2-9)
Often we go about errands and activities, pressed by what we’ve deemed important or been told is urgent, without vision and oblivious to God’s greater purposes for our time and lives. He alone knows the works for which He’s made us, and orders our steps and places to bring them about. His plans cannot be thwarted. (Job 42:2; Psalm 139:3-5,8-10,16; Jeremiah 10:23; Acts 17:24-26; Ephesians 2:10)
How can we develop an eternal perspective every day? Wouldn’t it build high expectation and holy zeal to offer ourselves living sacrifices for whatever transformation of character and spirit the Lord deems vital to His plans, whatever divine appointments He intends? What narrow vision, timidity, or fear keeps us from seeking and making ourselves available for His errands? (Romans 12:1-2)
Lord, keep my daily vision high and eternal. I submit myself to Your sovereign workmanship, for Your purposes and glory.
As the rain and snow 