I Samuel 9

Hook

You’ve likely been told that I Samuel 9 is a story about destiny, divine appointments, and the "hero’s journey" of a future king. If you bounced off this text in Hebrew school, it was probably because it felt like a dry genealogy followed by a confusing scavenger hunt for lost donkeys. It feels like a historical footnote, stiff and remote.

But what if I told you this isn’t a story about a king finding his crown? It’s a story about a guy who went out to run a mundane errand, failed, and ended up having his entire life’s trajectory rewritten over dinner. It’s the biblical version of the "wrong turn" that leads you to the person you are actually supposed to become. Let’s look at the messiness of Saul’s Tuesday and see why it matters to you.

Context

• The "Missing" Donkeys: Saul isn’t on a quest for glory; he’s doing unpaid manual labor for his dad. This is a story about the "in-between" times of life—the chores, the errands, and the interruptions we resent.
• The "Seer" vs. The "Prophet": The text notes that people used to call prophets "seers." This implies a shift in how humans relate to the divine: from looking for someone to help us find our lost property to looking for someone to help us find our lost purpose.
• The Misconception of Perfection: We often think "chosen" figures in the Bible are pre-ordained paragons of virtue. But look at I Samuel 9:1. The rabbis (like Malbim) focus on the genealogy of Kish, Saul’s father, noting that his lineage was defined by light-bringers—people who lit lamps in dark alleyways. Saul isn't just a random tall guy; he carries a legacy of illumination he doesn't even know how to use yet.

Text Snapshot

"Once the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish went astray, and Kish said to his son Saul, 'Take along one of the servants and go out and look for the donkeys.' ... When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant, 'Let us turn back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and begin to worry about us.' ... Saul said, 'But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the food in our bags is all gone.'" I Samuel 9:3–7

New Angle

Insight 1: The Theology of the "Failed Errand"

We live in a culture obsessed with optimization. We track our steps, our productivity, and our career milestones. Saul is the patron saint of the "unoptimized life." He goes out to find donkeys, fails to find them, and decides to give up.

In our adult lives, we treat "failure" as a dead end. We didn't get the promotion, the house fell through, the project tanked. But notice what happens here: Saul’s failure is the catalyst. Had he found the donkeys quickly, he would have returned home, lived as a farmer’s son, and died in obscurity. It was the failure to find the donkeys that forced him into the territory of the "Seer."

This is a radical re-framing of professional and personal disappointment. The things we think are "lost" or "strayed"—our plans, our expectations, our perceived paths—are often just the divine friction required to move us into a new room. Saul’s anxiety about the donkeys was the only thing that moved him toward the palace. What if your current "failure" is just the logistical necessity for you to meet the person who will change your life?

Insight 2: The Humility of the "Not-Yet-King"

When Samuel tells Saul he is the future ruler of Israel, Saul’s response is not "Finally, it's about time." It is shock: "I am only a Benjaminite, from the smallest of the tribes... why do you say such things to me?" I Samuel 9:21.

There is a profound, messy human vulnerability here. Saul is a "head taller" than everyone else—he has the physical stature of a leader—but he has none of the internal confidence. This is the struggle of every adult stepping into a new role, whether it’s parenthood, a management position, or a shift in personal identity. We often feel like imposters, looking for our "donkeys" while the world is waiting for us to "rule."

The text invites us to stop waiting to feel "qualified." Samuel doesn't give Saul a leadership seminar; he gives him a seat at the head of the table and a portion of meat. He treats Saul as a king before Saul believes he is one. That’s the work of a mentor—to see the "ruler" in the person who is still just worried about their lost donkeys. We all need a Samuel who will tell us: "Stop worrying about the donkeys; they’ve been found. Worry about the work you’re actually here to do."

Low-Lift Ritual

This week, practice the "Pivot Inquiry."

When you encounter a minor frustration—a cancelled meeting, a missed train, a project that stalls—pause for 60 seconds. Instead of trying to "fix" the problem immediately, ask yourself: "If this 'failed errand' is actually leading me to a different room, what might be in that room?"

Don’t try to solve the problem. Just sit with the possibility that the frustration is a redirection, not a stop sign. It takes less than two minutes, requires no special equipment, and reminds you that your life is not a straight line, but a series of intersections.

Chevruta Mini

1. If you were suddenly told you were "the one" for a major task, would your first reaction be Saul’s (imposter syndrome) or something else? Why does our internal narrative about ourselves so often lag behind our external reality?
2. The servant is the one who pushes Saul to see the Seer I Samuel 9:6. Who is the "servant" in your life—the person who points out possibilities you’re too busy worrying about "donkeys" to see?

Takeaway

You weren't wrong to think this story was about donkeys. It is. But it’s also about how the things we lose are often just the bait we need to get us to the place where we can finally be found. You don't need to be a king to have a destiny; you just need to be willing to walk toward the town you weren't planning to visit.