The Importance of Exercising PatienceНамуна

King Saul's Impatient Mistake

The scripture also displays the importance of patience by showcasing the life of Saul, the first king of Israel. The Benjaminite is a prominent example who exemplifies the danger of impatience.

In the book of Samuel, we learn Saul took no delight in waiting patiently for God, or following His instructions. As a result, he set himself and his posterity on the course for ruin. After Saul had reigned in Israel for two years, the rival Philistine army assembled to launch an attack on Israel.

At the time, the Israelites also gathered together with Saul in Gilgal because in those days, they would not go to war until the priest prayed and made offerings to God on their behalf. Samuel was the priest and prophet at the beginning of Saul’s reign who told the king to wait for him for seven days. However, instead of adhering to the prophet’s instructions, Saul became so restless that he presumptuously offered the burnt offering himself, which was a direct violation of God’s commandment that only allowed priests to carry out sacrifices.

Part of the reason Saul grew impatient was because the people started to scatter after waiting at Gilgal for nearly a week. In fear, he decided to carry out the prophet’s priestly duty. Right after Saul broke God’s commandment, Samuel showed up just as he said he would.