The Road to Bethlehem

As an angry sun rose burning the back of Samuel’s eyes, an outline of a small town soon emerged. Resisting the urge to close his eyes to the blazing sun, Samuel was reminded of his advancing age. His vision and suffering were slowly leeching away any pleasure he had left, leaving him with nothing but the memories of a magnificent life. The rays from the sun punished him, reminding him of his failure, but he refused to reminisce about it. The past was the past, and there could be no changing it. For now, he had to look at the present. Samuel looked toward the town ahead and instantly recognized it. Bethlehem. There was no mistaking where God was leading him. Still, he made the journey on heavy feet. Saul, a man he had placed his faith in, betrayed God’s trust and had left Samuel with no choice, but to anoint another king.

Adding insult to injury, he bore the responsibility of anointing Saul to begin with. Samuel remembered the first time he met Saul as if it had happened yesterday. He was at his house in Ramah, when a neighbor stopped by and introduced him to a tall, gangly youth. “This boy wandered in town, and he’s in need of some help,” the neighbor said. “Perhaps you can assist him.”

Samuel gazed at that young man. “What brings you to my house?”

The boy sheepishly grinned at him. “My name is Saul, son of Kish. I’m a Benjaminite from the land of Ephraim. Our donkeys wandered off, and I have been searching for them. I have heard you are a great seer, so you may be able to assist me. My father was anxious about the donkeys, but now it’s been three days. I’m sure he must be getting worried about me. Please, sir, could you tell me their whereabouts?”

Samuel peered into the boy’s eyes, and in them, he saw a special light, one only given by God himself. Is this the one? he thought. Is this Saul, son of Kish, the one God wishes to be the king of his people?

A breeze picked up and blew across his face, and with it, came the whisper of God’s voice. “This is the man I foretold to you. He shall govern my people.”

Samuel had to restrain himself from falling to his knees in front of the boy. Instead, he clasped Saul’s shoulders. “Do not worry about the donkeys, my son. I see they have been found and returned to your father.”

Saul breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, kind sir. You have lifted a burden off my heart. How can I repay you?”

“You need do nothing, my son. Come, let us eat.” Samuel sent word to the elders of Ramah that they were invited to a feast of celebration. By the time he led Saul to the banquet room, it was filled with people. He sat him at the head of the table and fed the guests nothing but the finest of food.

When evening came, Samuel took Saul back to his place and laid out a fine mattress with his own hands for Saul to sleep on that night. He continued to watch over him until he fell asleep. At that moment, Samuel realized the man, whom he had known for only one day, was more like a son to him than his own flesh and blood.

Bitter memories returned when recalled that time. His own two sons turning against God, tore a hole in his heart. The shame of his sons washed over him when the elders publicly rejected his bid for either of them to replace him as Judge over Israel. Silence was his only companion during that humiliating ordeal. But the truth couldn’t be hidden. They had fallen into sin and were corrupted beyond hope.

But now he was given a second chance, a chance to redeem himself before God and the people of Israel. God had chosen Saul to lead Israel as their first king. Through God’s blessings, Israel would become a great nation led by Saul, and when the time came for him to leave this world, Samuel would be at peace, knowing he served God to the fullest.

Samuel’s dream was coming to fruition until that tragic day, the day Saul showed his true colors. On the day God had commanded Saul to attack Amalek, Samuel had informed Saul that God wanted him to kill everyone and destroy everything in the city. But Saul was blinded by greed, and instead, he saved the best livestock for himself and spared King Agag’s life.

Samuel collapsed in grief when he heard the news. But by the time he reached Saul to see what had happened, it was too late. Because of Saul’s indiscretion, God declared him no longer worthy to be the ruler of His people. Soon after, Samuel returned to Ramah a broken man. During his trek home, he pondered on the message God had given him. Did I misinterpret what God said? he thought. He said he was to govern over my people, but did that mean I had to anoint him? But it was useless pondering over those questions. The pot had already fallen and shattered into a thousand pieces.

Dejected, Samuel returned back home with his shoulders slump. When he entered the city, he found the streets crowded with people and had to force his way through them to reach his home. As he was about to push open the door of his house and try to put the past behind him, a dove landed on his shoulder.

Surprised by his guest, Samuel greeted his new friend. The dove quizzically looked back at him and cocked its head. As Samuel stroked its neck, it cooed. “What brings you here, my little friend?” he asked.

The dove closed its eyes and continued to coo. Samuel smiled. Then, the dove suddenly took flight and circled above him and as it flew away, the dove’s shadow crossed Samuel’s face.

Samuel pondered, as the dove flew out of sight, and he stood there, a sensation he hadn’t felt for a long time came upon him. Hope. With a new sense of purpose, he threw the door open. It was foolish of me to doubt God’s word, he thought. Someway, somehow, I had forgotten the most basic of all rules: God never makes mistakes. If He let Saul fall from grace, then there’s a reason for it. I may not know what it is, but it doesn’t matter. I just know one thing: God is setting the stage for something even greater.

Samuel walked to the courtyard and fell to his knees and prayed. As he prostrated himself, all his pent-up emotions poured out of this heart, and he offered them to the Lord. As the poison purged from his heart, it was replaced by the love of God. As Samuel stood, he felt as if he were resurrected from the dead.

As a breeze blew across his face, he heard the word of the Lord. “Go to Bethlehem and find Jesse’s son. You know what must be done.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Immediately, he turned away and went back out to the streets. By God’s grace, his servant was waiting for his return and had his donkey waiting for him. As he rode out of town, the crowds on the streets parted, guiding him on his way.

Now, he was laying his eyes on Bethlehem. He sat back down on his donkey and started the last leg of his journey. History was about to be made.