Yesterday’s writing revealed that Aaron’s sin was a result of the fear of men versus the Fear of GOD.
It is recorded by The Holy Spirit in 1st Samuel chapter 13:
5 Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven.
6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.
7 And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Fear of men caused Saul to respond and take matters into his own hands.
8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
9 So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering.
10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
It was unlawful for the king to make a burnt offering.
11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,
12 then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”
Saul made a soulish decision which cost him the kingdom.
13 And Samuel said to Saul, “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.
14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
Saul walked in the fear of men whereas David walked in the Fear of THE LORD, a man after GOD’S own Heart.
As we saw in the previous writings, Aaron was under pressure from the leaders wanting him to make a golden calf. The fear of the opinion of people and here in this case where the people were scattering out of fear, Saul responded in the same manner.
Whenever THE LORD is exposing insecurities in us, HE is doing us a favor. Insecurity is wrong security exposed. It reveals our level of trust in THE LORD.
Saul told Samuel, “You did not come within the days appointed.” Saul did not take ownership of his own actions; he blamed Samuel for his sin. Illegal sacrifices are totally unacceptable to THE LORD!
By deflecting responsibility, we delay our own progress. You cannot speed up GOD’S process, but you can slow it down.
In both situations (Aaron and Saul), we have delays caused by THE LORD. Why would THE LORD cause a delay? It is never punishment. When a breakthrough has been delayed, something we prayed for, things that are in us that we didn’t know were in us, rise to the surface and they must be dealt with.
When HE exposes what is in my heart, I can confess because when I recognize what I didn’t see before and I recognize it and acknowledge it, I can repent and remove the hindrance in my walk. The delay will result in strengthening the foundation which HE can build something more significant in my life. He can entrust me with greater power and authority.
Delay will reveal our level of the Fear of THE LORD.
As Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
This includes delays!