Saul faced a difficult situation. The Philistines had gathered for battle, and their army was a serious threat to Israel. Saul’s soldiers were becoming afraid, and some of them were beginning to leave.

Samuel had instructed Saul to wait for him at Gilgal for seven days. Saul waited, but as the appointed time passed and Samuel had not yet arrived, Saul became anxious. Seeing his army scatter and the enemy approaching, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He offered the burnt offering himself.

Just as Saul finished, Samuel arrived.

Samuel confronted him and asked, “What have you done?” Saul explained that the people were scattering, Samuel had not arrived when expected, and the Philistines were preparing for battle. His circumstances seemed to justify his actions.

But Samuel made it clear that Saul had acted foolishly because he had not obeyed the command of the Lord.

Saul allowed fear and pressure to influence a decision that required obedience. His problem was real, but his response was wrong.

Sometimes God asks us to wait when everything around us tells us that we should act immediately. We may feel that if we do not take control, everything will fall apart.

But a difficult circumstance does not give us permission to disobey God.