His actions in later years as king make it difficult to believe, but Saul really was a reluctant leader to begin with. He told Samuel he was not the man as he was from an insignificant clan of the most insignificant tribe in Israel. But Samuel knew that nothing was impossible with God and he told Saul that "The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you." - 1 Sam. 10:6-7 NIV
And that is exactly what happened. "As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day." - 1 Sam 10:9 NIV
Saul met the procession of prophets as Samuel said he would, and the next thing you know, he is prophesying with the best of them, to everyone's amazement. Samuel proceeds to Mizpah and summons the people, to announce that God has chosen the king they have been asking for. From all of Israel, he chooses the tribe of Benjamin, and from the tribe of Benjamin he chooses Matri's clan and from Matri's clan he chooses Saul. But Saul is nowhere to be found. Where is this king chosen by God? Where is this guy with the change of heart? Where is the person who heard the voice of the Lord and prophesied with all of the other prophets? The King James Version puts it this way. "And the LORD answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff. " -1 Sam. 10:22
This brave king, this chosen one, was hiding in the stuff. Was he busy counting what he would lose if he became king. Tallying up his computer games, cell phones, i-pods, designer wardrobe and fast cars? Or was he counting up his accomplishments: his family, his awards, the organizations he belonged to, his title, his six-figure salary. Whatever the stuff he was hiding in, he was not hidden from God who saw right through him along with the stuff. The stuff was not what God had chosen him for and not what God wanted Saul to use to guide the people of Israel. The Spirit of the Lord was all Saul needed. All of the stuff he was hiding in was useless.
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