Zambia Hunt

If we are going to work for God, we must do it God’s way. If we are going to reach the world with the gospel, we must do it God’s way.

In the story of Saul in 1 Samuel 13, we have an example of a man of God attempting to do something good, yet doing it in a manner other than what God prescribed.

Samuel the prophet had told God’s anointed to gather the troops to go to battle against the Philistines. Samuel told Saul that in seven days, he would come to offer a sacrifice and ask God for a blessing in battle.

Saul hurried off and gathered the troops. Day six passed, and still no sign of Samuel. On the seventh day, morning turned to noon and noon to late afternoon. The hour was growing late, and the troops were becoming restless and scattered.

Seeing the late hour and the need to rally the troops to fight the enemy of God, Saul commanded his servants to bring the animal for sacrifice. Saul proceeded to slay the animal and offer the sacrifice to God. Doubtless, the troops rallied, and excitement ran through the ranks. New volunteers enlisted in the enthusiasm of patriotism.

Saul thought that he had found a solution to God’s problem. But in doing so, he had neglected to promote and obey God’s prescribed way of doing things.

No sooner had Saul finished sacrificing than Samuel arrived. Samuel was not late. God’s representative was precisely on time.

In carrying out Christ’s commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, I believe many times we are guilty of the sin of Saul. We see troop enlistment declining, yet the battle grows more intense. The population on the home front seems too busy with the pursuit of creature comforts to be interested in marching to the front line. What are we to do?

We have repeatedly emphasized the urgent need. Indeed, the great need will inspire some to volunteer for Christ’s Foreign Legion. Or perhaps pleading will be effective. Just donate some time. Be a short-termer.

Some feel the solution is to increase giving to missions. With more money, more can be accomplished.

Keeping the needs of the people in mind is good. Giving to missions is good. Sacrificing that lamb was a good thing—something that God wanted done. But something happened that invoked the disfavor of God instead of His favor. The need was not met God’s way.

What is God’s way of reaching the regions beyond? What is God’s eternal plan for the fulfillment of the Great Commission? That plan is revealed to us in three of the four gospels.

Matthew 9:37-38: “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”

Luke 10:2: “Therefore he said unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.”

John 4:35: “Say not ye, There are yet four months and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest!”

Prayer is God’s way. Prayer is the real work. Prayer is not a benediction we add to some work that we are already attempting for God. Isn’t that what Saul did? He sacrificed and then prayed. In doing so, he disobeyed God’s command. In Saul’s reasoning, it seemed like the logical solution to God’s problem.

When will we, the army of God, successfully reach the world for Christ? When we surrender ourselves. When we sacrifice our time—that commodity that we are so short of yet so sinful in wasting—and get down to the real work of God, the work of prayer. It is then that those white harvest fields will be filled with laborers. Laborers who have met the Master face-to-face and heard His call, caught His vision, and surrendered to His will. It will be the Lord of the Harvest who is successful in thrusting forth laborers into His great harvest field.

“There is only one field of service that has no snares, and that is the field of intercession. All other fields have the glorious but risky snare of publicity; prayer has not. The key to all our work for God is in that one word we are apt to despise—’Pray.’ Prayer is ‘laborer’ work.”

May God deliver us from the sin of Saul. We pray—God thrusts. That is God’s way.