3 Pressures That Can Push You Out of God’s Will (1 Samuel 13:11)
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“And Samuel said, what hast thou done? And Saul said because I saw that the people were scattered from me and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash” (1 Samuel 13:11)
Saul, as king, was forbidden to perform priestly functions. However, faced with mounting pressure, Saul trespassed these boundaries and performed a sacrifice. Saul’s decision arose from three distinct pressures that weighed heavily on him. Through this verse mapping study of 1 Samuel 13:11, we will uncover the three types of pressure that lured Saul into disobedience. More importantly, we will reflect on how we can avoid making the same mistakes in our walk with God.
#1 – The Fear of Losing People’s Allegiance
The phrase “the people were scattered from me” reveals Saul’s deep concern about maintaining the loyalty and support of those under his leadership. In the context of ancient Israel, a king’s authority and success were often tied to the unity and allegiance of his people. Saul, noticing the people leaving him, panicked. Instead of trusting God’s plan and timing, he succumbed to the fear of losing their support. This fear became a significant source of pressure, leading him to act impulsively and outside the boundaries of his God-given role.
In today’s terms, Saul’s actions could be likened to the pressure many feel in a world driven by social validation. People chase after likes, followers, and views on social media, often measuring their worth by the attention they receive. When the numbers drop, anxiety sets in, and the temptation arises to do whatever it takes to regain that lost approval. For Saul, the scattering of the people represented a loss of influence, and he responded not by seeking God but by taking matters into his own hands, performing a priestly duty that was forbidden for him.
The Bible consistently warns against placing too much emphasis on human approval. Proverbs 29:25 states, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” Saul’s fear of losing the people’s support ensnared him, leading him to prioritize their allegiance over obedience to God. Jesus also addressed this issue in John 12:43, condemning those who “loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”
This first line of pressure highlights a timeless struggle: the desire to be seen, loved, and supported can sometimes overshadow our commitment to doing what is right in God’s eyes. Saul’s mistake serves as a warning to us today. While leadership and influence are important, they must not come at the cost of disobedience to God. True leadership is grounded in trust in the Lord, not in the fleeting approval of others.
Saul’s decision to act out of fear rather than faith shows how dangerous it is to prioritize the opinions of people over the commandments of God. His concern for his image and popularity led him down a path of disobedience. Let this be a reminder that our ultimate allegiance must always be to God, for His approval is eternal, while human approval is temporary and unreliable.
#2 – Impatience with Divine Timing
The second line of pressure that pushed Saul toward disobedience is captured in his words: “…and that thou camest not within the days appointed.” This statement reveals Saul’s inability to handle the waiting period for divine intervention. He faced what many of us experience at some point in life—a sense of delay that tests our faith and patience. In these moments, it often feels as though God is silent, indifferent, or simply not moving according to our expectations. Saul’s response to this delay illustrates how easily we can fall into the trap of taking matters into our own hands when we lose sight of God’s timing.
In this instance, Saul was instructed by Samuel to wait for seven days, during which Samuel would come to offer sacrifices and seek the Lord’s favor (1 Samuel 10:8). Yet as the appointed time passed and Samuel was still not present, Saul’s anxiety began to grow. The Philistines, his enemy, were gathering at Michmash, and the Israelite troops were scattering in fear. This combination of external threats and apparent divine delay made Saul feel cornered. Instead of trusting God’s plan and waiting for His servant Samuel, Saul assumed the role of a priest and offered the burnt sacrifice himself—a clear violation of God’s commandments (1 Samuel 13:9).
This story demonstrates a critical lesson about divine delays: God’s timing is not our timing (Isaiah 55:8-9). Waiting on God often feels uncomfortable, especially when we are facing external pressures or when the situation seems urgent. However, the Bible repeatedly shows us that God uses these delays to test and refine our faith. For example, Abraham waited 25 years for the fulfillment of God’s promise of a son (Genesis 21:5), and Joseph endured years of slavery and imprisonment before he saw God’s plan unfold in his life (Genesis 50:20). These examples teach us that waiting on God’s timing is an act of faith that honors Him, even when we do not understand His ways.
Saul’s failure to wait reveals a deeper spiritual issue: a lack of trust in God. By choosing to act independently, Saul essentially declared that he trusted his own judgment more than God’s promise. This is a common struggle for many believers. When delays occur, we can be tempted to believe that God is absent or that His plans are failing. Yet Scripture reminds us that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness” (2 Peter 3:9). His delays are purposeful and designed to accomplish His perfect will for all things work together for His good (Romans 8:28).
For believers today, the challenge is to resist the temptation to act impulsively when God appears to delay. Instead, we are called to rest in His promises and trust that He is working behind the scenes, even when we cannot see it. Psalm 27:14 encourages us with these words: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Saul’s failure serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to remain steadfast and patient, knowing that God’s timing is always perfect and His ways are always best (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
#3 – Intimidation By The Enemy’s Advantage
In 1 Samuel 13:11, Saul mentions that “the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash.” This phrase highlights the immense pressure Saul felt as he watched his enemies gaining strength and positioning themselves strategically. Michmash was a critical location for battle, and the Philistines’ gathering there symbolized a direct threat to Israel’s security. Saul, as king, felt the weight of responsibility for protecting his people. The sight of an advancing enemy, coupled with the growing possibility of an attack, intensified his fear and drove him to act out of desperation rather than obedience to God.
The Philistines’ superior military might have exacerbated Saul’s anxiety. They were a well-equipped and organized force, possessing advanced iron weapons, which gave them a significant edge over the Israelites. This stark contrast between the two armies may have made Saul feel inadequate and overwhelmed. His human reasoning likely told him that immediate action was necessary to prevent disaster. In such a situation, waiting for Samuel, who was supposed to arrive and offer sacrifices to seek God’s favor, seemed impractical. Saul decided to take matters into his own hands and perform the priestly duty himself, crossing the boundaries of his God-ordained role as king.
This pressure resonates with the challenges believers face today. When confronted with looming problems or adversaries that seem to have an upper hand, it is tempting to rely on our own strategies instead of trusting in God’s timing and provision. However, Scripture reminds us that victory belongs to the Lord, not by our might or power, but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Saul’s fear and lack of faith led him to focus more on the immediate threat than on God’s sovereignty. By doing so, he acted out of alignment with God’s command and paid a steep price.
Throughout the Bible, God demonstrates that He is greater than any enemy or challenge we might face. When the Israelites stood before the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army pursuing them, they were powerless, yet God intervened and parted the sea (Exodus 14:21-22). When Gideon faced the Midianites with only 300 men, God gave them victory to show that deliverance comes from Him, not human strength (Judges 7:7-22). Similarly, Saul had the opportunity to trust God in the face of the Philistine threat, but his fear led him astray.
Ultimately, this line of pressure reveals the importance of faith in God’s promises and commands, even when circumstances seem dire. God calls His people to trust Him wholeheartedly, knowing that His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Saul’s disobedience serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that taking matters into our own hands out of fear or impatience often leads to greater consequences than we anticipate. Obedience to God, even in the face of overwhelming odds, is always the better choice.
Conclusion: Are You Doing The Work of God Or Yours?
Saul’s actions in 1 Samuel 13 highlight the tragic consequences of succumbing to pressure and disobeying God’s commands. In 1 Samuel 13:13-14, Samuel’s rebuke lays bare the gravity of Saul’s actions: “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart.” God’s anger was not because Saul acted in a stressful moment, but because Saul’s reasoning ignored God’s clear instructions. Though the pressures he faced—people scattering, delays in Samuel’s arrival, and the looming threat of the Philistines—seemed to justify his actions in human reasoning, God saw them differently. Saul’s disobedience was not just a momentary lapse but a direct violation of God’s order, revealing a deeper issue: his misplaced priorities. Saul chose logic, fear, and self-preservation over steadfast trust and obedience to God.
The commandments of God are not negotiable. They are sovereign decrees that must be obeyed without compromise, for God is the King of Kings. To disobey His orders is rebellion, and rebellion forfeits reward. While Saul performed a ritual, God considered it “no work done” because it did not align with His will. Similarly, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:21 that not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of the Father. Actions that deviate from God’s instruction, no matter how well-intentioned, hold no weight in His sight. When it comes to God’s commandments, obedience, not human logic, is the foundation of a right relationship with God (1 Samuel 15:22).
Saul’s failure stands as a solemn reminder that disobedience can cost us not only opportunities but also the very crown God has prepared for us. Our reward in the kingdom of God is tied to faithful labor in alignment with His will (1 Corinthians 3:8; Galatians 6:7). If we choose to follow our own paths instead of God’s calling, we risk our assignment being given to someone else who will complete it faithfully like Saul’s kingdom was given to David (1 Samuel 13:14)
God does not adjust His divine plan to fit human disobedience. Instead, He looks for others who will fulfill His purpose. This principle is echoed in the parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), where the servant who failed to act in obedience lost his assignment, and it was given to another. As Ezekiel 21:27 says, “I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more until he comes whose right it is; and I will give it to him.” God will overturn circumstances and people until He finds someone willing to obey and complete His work.
It is a sobering truth that God seeks men and women after His own heart—those who will obey Him completely and trust Him even under pressure. Saul’s story urges us to prioritize obedience over convenience, faith over fear, and God’s will over our own reasoning. Let us not lose sight of the fact that our ultimate reward is rooted in fulfilling the purposes of God, who calls us to unwavering faithfulness and steadfast trust in His commands.
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