[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during November 2022]
Jonathan said, ‘My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. 1 Samuel 14 v29 [NIVUK]
It was one of those times when the nation’s leader had made a mistake, as indeed many have done both before and since. King Saul’s son Jonathan and his assistant had led a counter-attack against an attack by the Philistines and Israel’s army had successfully pushed back the enemy but now they were tired and hungry. Saul had obviously never heard the adage that “an army marches on it stomach” and he had given an order that the troops should not eat anything, on pain of death, until the enemy had been fully defeated. Jonathan was unaware of his father’s instructions; he ate some wild honey and was visibly refreshed. When Saul tried to enforce his directive his army rebelled.
“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. 1 Kings 18 v18 [NIVUK]
Ahab was a later king of Israel. He made the mistake of turning his back on the God of Israel and instead he led the nation in the worship of the gods of the surrounding nations. It is recorded that he did more evil than any of the kings before him.[1] Elijah the prophet opposed the king’s behaviour and found himself in dire straits so he fled into the wilderness. There ravens brought him food morning and evening, he drank water from a brook and he was refreshed. When Ahab tried to challenge Elijah he lost 450 of his finest clerics.
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We do not have to delve very far into the past to see that there are still times when a nation’s leader can make mistakes. Some try to brazen their way through the ensuing trouble by calling on the force of their personality or the personnel of their forces. Often, the most unfortunate victims of their mistakes are the people that they lead.
How do we respond when other people react badly to our mistakes? Perhaps that response is linked to how we react to other people’s mistakes. Do we endeavour to teach them a lesson with a like-for-like; do we resort to language that would make a sailor blush or do we try to bottle-up our frustrations?
Alternatively, we can recognise that everybody makes mistakes. We can treat mistakes as opportunities for learning, forgiveness and refreshment. For both Jonathan and Elijah, God provided refreshment at the time of need using natural resources; he can still do the same for us. Have you counted your blessings today?
You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. Job 11 v16-17 [NIVUK]
[1] 1 Kings 16 v30
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
Thank you Steve for more thoughtful reflections over the last few weeks.