Before we get into the Scripture, let me first say, today is Day 100! If you’ve stuck with the reading plan for 100 days, there is a very good chance that you are going to see it through to the end. And not only that, but there’s a great chance you have forged a lifelong habit of daily immersing yourself in God’s Word. Congratulations!
One of my favorite things to do when I study Scripture is to compare different translations. God will often give me a fresh insight or a new way of seeing a text simply by comparing the decisions different translation teams made. Take 1 Samuel 10:22, for example. It’s a pretty straightforward verse, which means the same thing regardless of the translation. Here it is, in three popular translations:
“Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” 1 Samuel 10:22 ESV
Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.” 1 Samuel 10:22 KJV
“Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.” 1 Samuel 10:22 NIV
Look, I know how the story of Saul ends. I know he winds up being arrogant, and jealous, and petty. But for a minute, I kinda love Saul. And it’s this moment right here– when he gets to his coronation ceremony, and he’s so insecure and overwhelmed that he hides. The KJV says he’s hiding among the stuff. NIV reads “he is hidden among the supples.” And the ESV has Saul hiding “among the baggage.” All three of these translations speak something different to me about the temptation of a leader to hide.
Among the Stuff: Let’s be honest. Sometimes God calls us to step up and do something that causes us to leave our comforts behind. There’s a near 100% chance that there won’t be a mint on the pillow on my next mission trip. Maybe (gasp!) not even a Starbucks. So will I hide myself among my stuff when God calls?
Among the Supplies: Sometimes I’m more confident with the mundane tasks. Put me in a homeless shelter, and I think I would much rather organize and sort the items in the clothes closet than actually have conversations with some of the overnight guests. But God may want me to be knee to knee with a homeless man. It’s easy for me to hide among the supplies.
Among the baggage: This word “baggage” has come to mean junk and stuff from our past that we are bringing into our present. And oh Lord, how many times have I let my baggage keep me from leading? Lord, you call me to leave behind the sin that so easily entangles and run the race that’s set before me (Hebrews 12:1). But I can talk myself out of stepping up by hiding among my baggage.
So which is it for you: stuff, supplies, or baggage? Whichever it is, come out of hiding. God has called us a chosen race. A holy nation. A people of his own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).
So stop hiding. Lead.
Leave a Reply