God really means what He says; and for some reason, many of us have a hard time believing and accepting that.

You should revisit the story King Saul in 1 Samuel 15 on a regular basis. I know of no better example that depicts where many in the church today find themselves. God instructed King Saul, through the prophet Samuel, to go and ‘utterly destroy the Amalekites and everything they had’. (1 Sam. 15:1-3). God had His reasons, that you can be sure of.

So Saul gathered up his soldiers and set out to do...what God told him to do. But something went awry along the way and he ended up sparing the king, Agag, (that we know of) along with the ‘best of the sheep and oxen and lambs. (8-9) We read there that he was ‘unwilling to utterly destroy them’ despite God commanding ‘everything ...they had.”

God sent word to Samuel of His displeasure over Saul’s failure to follow through on what he was instructed to do. You do realize that we can provoke God to anger by our disobedience, yes? (1 Cor. 10:4-11; Heb. 3:16-19). “Behold both the goodness and the severity of the Lord...’, Paul reminds us. (Rom. 11:22)

So Samuel heads down to confront Saul and when Saul sees him coming, he runs out to greet him with a ‘Praise the Lord Brother Samuel...I did all the Lord commanded me to do!” -greeting.(13) Then comes one of the most direct, cutting, and confrontational questions ever asked in the Bible...by Samuel: “Oh really, Saul?

"Then what is the bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” (14)

Do we not read in the NT over and over how we are to ‘put to death ALL the deeds and desires of this fleshly, carnal nature’? And those who belong to Christ have done this very thing.(Gal. 5:24; Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5-9). So just maybe...if God was to send Samuel to us today, what question might he ask of us who claim to be ‘in Christ’?

“Oh really...church? Then what is this grumbling and pride and anger and strife and division I hear coming out of you?. What is this filthy and foolish talk I hear along with coarse jesting and fornicating and coveting I hear about? These things should not even be named among you as is fitting for the saints!” (Eph. 5:3-6)

And how many are so inclined to respond like Saul did when he began to backpedal and make excuses...and justify his actions before blaming others. (18-26). Saul was deluded to think he could just put on a great ‘praise and worship’ display and that God would be pleased.(Amos 5:21-24)  Saul could not have been more deceived as he was rejected by God. It was from this point that Saul’s downward spiral began, eventually being tormented by evil spirits (sent by God). (1 Sam. 16:14-15)

Now go read 1 Sam. 31 that is titled: The Tragic End of Saul and His Sons’. What folks fail to realize is how Saul really died. One might falsely conclude that Saul died from falling on his sword. (5-6). But if you read the first chapter in the next book, 2 Samuel, you will see what took Saul’s life; it was the very thing he was originally told to deal with: an Amalekite. (2 Sam. 1:1-13)

Be. Not. Deceived.

“For in the day that you eat off that tree, you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2:17)

“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die...” (Rom. 8:13)