God forewarned the Israelites to keep His ways before they entered the land He promised them, else His blessings would not be upon them. It wasn't very long before the Israelites wanted to become like the other nations. They were attracted to the ungodly lifestyle of the people in the land, and God was not enough for them. As a result, they rejected their God as their king and wanted to have a human king like the other nations. 1 Samuel 8:6-8 says, "But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you."
As a result of their foolish decision, God's blessings were lifted up from them, and they never had peace in the land. Eventually, they were defeated and enslaved by other nations. A well-known phrase says, "the grass is always greener on the other side." It means that other people always seem to be in a better place or situation than us. It is a feeling of never enough. The Israelites believed that the people's ways in the land were better than the ways of God. They never were content in God's ways. As a result, they rejected God and followed whatever their hearts desired. They exchanged the God who rescued them from slavery in Egypt with people who would eventually enslave them.
In the course of time, the Israelites finally learned that God's ways are better than their ways, but they had already gone through death, loss, pain, and sorrow. Let us be content in God's ways. Let us not be persuaded by believing that our life is better when we do whatever we want and disregard God in our life. God knows what is best for us, and His ways are better than the ways of this world. Let us always remember that the grass is always greener in God's ways.
Ask yourself these questions: Am I content in God's ways? What is God teaching me from today's devotion?
Write down all the worries that you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, you are the giver and sustainer of life. You know what's best for me. Please help me always to remember that the grass is always green in your way. Please help me to choose your ways today rather than the ways of this world. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.