Which City Will it Be?

1 Samuel 8:4-5 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (ESV)

    Israel looked at what they did not have and longed for what their neighboring brethren had. Maybe lately you have found yourself longing for that which is not yours. It always seems to be that amidst the many blessings that the Lord pours out in our life Satan finds that one thing we don’t have and cant resist to live without. Do not be deceived for from the beginning of time Satan has been using the same tricks. Wasn’t it in the midst of Eden and all its glory that Satan tempted Eve of the one thing prohibited.
   
    Adam and Eve were lavished with blessings unknown to any man even to this day and still they fell for the flashy things of this world. It was the desires of the flesh, Eve saw that the tree was good for food, the desires of the eyes, the tree was a delight to her eyes, and pride in possessions, it would make her wise (1 John 2:16; Genesis 3:6). It was the Israelites who also fell to the flash of this world. They wanted to be like the other nations and have a king to go out before them and fight their battles (1 Samuel 8:20). The Israelites had once lived in Egypt and although they were slaves surely there were days where the grass looked greener on the other side. No doubt they saw the power of pharaoh, they saw his mighty army and his palace in all its splendor and majesty. I’m sure to a hand full of blisters and a sweat covered brow the glory of pharaoh was a “delight to the eyes.”

    I note one common theme in both the creation story and this latter story of topic. God never forced their decision upon them, He left the door wide open and gave them the will to do as they pleased. With that thought He never left them without instructive insight on the decision they were making. He warned the Israelites the bondage that would come of giving themselves over to the rule of a king (1 Samuel 8:11-18), just as he warned Adam of the death to come if he ate from the tree (Genesis 3:17). Even in light of the consequences at hand, both caved in. Israel refused to obey and demanded for their to be a king over them (8:19), Adam willingly transgressed and ate from the tree (1 Timothy 2:14).

    Of this I would say I am amazed, but I know if faced with the same situation I would have fallen captive. Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city” (1 Samuel 8:22). Today the same offer is laid out before you and I, the choice is ours, which city will you choose? Will it be the world and all of its fleeting pleasures or will it be the land flowing with milk and honey. That is the city of King Jesus who says to all who come they shall never thirst nor hunger (John 6:35).