In 1 Samuel 8:1-22, Israel asked for a king to ‘judge them like the nations (verses 19-20), to represent them and fight their battles.’
God told Samuel, Israel rejected me that I should not reign over them (verse 7).
God said to Samuel, tell the people what a king will do to them (verses 10-18). A king will take their sons to perform his business. They will plow his ground, make his instruments of war, and he will take their fields and vineyards. He will take a tenth of your seed and vineyards and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your sheep and you will be his servants.
King Solomon
All of this actually happened in the days of Solomon. Solomon had strip the people of their wealth through excessive taxes to fund his extravagant lifestyle. The people rebelled against the the house of David because of it.
Although God was committed to being a partner with Israel, he told Samuel give the people what they want. The people rejected God and asked for a “man” to be their judge and fight their battles.
God has extend to us his “kingdom”, his reign and blessings. But like Israel of Samuel’s day, we can reject God’s kingdom provision and ask for a man to be our source and to fight our battles.
Inexperienced –
One of the problems of receiving from God is, people don’t know how to cooperate with God, how flow with him. So when they get into challenging situations, they fall back on what they are comfortable with. Matthew 6:33, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness’ or his way of doing things and “all these things shall be added unto you”. What things? Life needs? Food, water, and clothing, yes; but something much more than the necessities of physical life; I’m talking about “life itself” eternal life, the gift of God (John 4:10-14). The life of God that fully satisfies!
Genesis 2:7 The Breath of Life
Adam’s body was formed first from the dust of the ground. It was only after the breath of life was imparted that Adam became a living soul. The breathe of God contained all the necessary information and power to bring Adam into a state to be made in the image and likeness of God
Partnership
Every theme in the Bible can be traced back to Genesis chapters 1-3. One of the themes that is firmly established in Genesis chapter 1 is the principle of partnership.
When God created man, He vision statement was, “LET US make man…” God works out partnership.
When God created the animals from the dust of the field, he brought them to Adam. Adam assigned names to the animals. God works through of partnership.
When God saw Adam working alone; God said, it’s not good for man to be alone, I will make him a helper. Because God works through partnership, he gave Adam a partner; a wife to help him.
God works out of partnership through partnership. Adam and Eve were created on equal terms. Each of them excel in their purpose
Partnership didn’t get its start in a university. It is revealed to us in Genesis 1:26, Let us make man in OUR image after our likeness. So God created man…
Who was doing the creating?
John 1:1-3
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:1-3
The Word became man
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (kjv)
God is with man, demonstrating what it means to worship God, what it means to master the circumstances of life. He came to redeem back man back to himself, to his original purpose!
Romans 8:31, If God be for us, who can be against us,
Grace & peace!
Secrets from the Garden of Eden 