“What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favour.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
1 Samuel 13:11-12 NIV
When pressure tests obedience to God, the heart is quickly revealed. First Samuel 13 places Saul in a moment of intense strain as Israel faces an overwhelming Philistine army. Humanly speaking, defeat seemed inevitable. Fear spread, numbers dwindled, and leadership felt increasingly fragile. This chapter exposes how obedience is often tested not in comfort but in moments of urgency and uncertainty.
First Samuel 13 opens with a striking imbalance. Verse 5 records the Philistines assembling with chariots, charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. In contrast, Israel had only 3,000 men, divided between Saul and Jonathan. Furthermore, Israel’s long history of subjection meant the men lacked real battle experience. From a human perspective, the situation appeared hopeless.
As pressure increased, fear took control. Verse 6 describes the Israelites hiding in caves, rocks, pits, and cisterns. Others crossed the Jordan into Gad and Gilead to escape the threat. Before the battle began, confidence had already collapsed. Saul stayed at Gilgal, yet his remaining troops trembled and gradually scattered. Consequently, the weight of leadership grew heavier by the day.
Meanwhile, God had given Saul a clear instruction through Samuel. Saul was to wait seven days at Gilgal until Samuel arrived to offer sacrifices and seek God’s favour. Saul waited, but as the days passed and Samuel was not sighted, fear intensified. Watching his men leave, and the enemy draw nearer, Saul felt compelled to act. He ordered the burnt offering and fellowship offerings and presented the sacrifice himself.
When pressure tests obedience to God, impatience is exposed
Saul’s decision was driven by fear rather than faith. Although he desired God’s favour, he ignored the path God had already provided—obedience. Saul stepped into a role God had not assigned to him, believing circumstances justified his actions. However, pressure never excuses disobedience. Instead, it reveals whether trust truly rests in God.
Samuel arrived immediately after the sacrifice. His question, “What have you done?” cut straight to the issue. Saul defended himself by pointing to circumstances, scattered men, and the advancing Philistines. Yet Samuel declared that Saul had acted foolishly and disobeyed the Lord. Because of this failure, Saul’s kingdom would not endure.
Samuel then revealed God’s deeper standard. God was seeking a man after His own heart—a man who desires to obey Him. Obedience flows from an inward hunger to know God’s will and to do it. Knowledge alone is never enough. God looks for hearts aligned with His purposes, especially when pressure is greatest.
This moment teaches a lasting truth. God tests the heart before entrusting responsibility. Waiting becomes difficult without a genuine relationship with Him. Ultimately, the issue is not gifting or position, but whether the heart remains surrendered when obedience feels costly.
Living It Out
Examine how you respond when pressure mounts. Allow pressure to deepen trust rather than rush decisions. Ask God to shape your heart to choose obedience, patience, and faith, even when answers seem delayed.