They got what they wanted and lost what they had

"But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them" (1 Sam. 8:6-7).

During the days of Samuel the the prophet the people of God began comparing themselves with the nations around them and feeling insecure. These nations were ruled by Kings, but the Israelites were led by Judges like Samuel, who was a godly man full of the wisdom of God. Under Samuel's leadership, Israel experienced the mighty hand of God delivering them from their enemies. But rather than looking up to God and trusting his faithfulness for their future, they looked at the nations around them and wanted to be like them. Although God warned them through Samuel of the consequences of having a King ruling over them, they insisted on getting their way. The result was that they got what they wanted, but lost what they had. There our times when we desire things that God does not will for our lives but we insist on getting our way. God through his Spirit will convict us, warn us and even send somebody our way to counsel us against making a wrong decision, but typically he will not forcebly stop us. If you want it bad enough, (i.e. a relationship,job, material possessions, business venture), God might just say, "you think you know better than me; have at it." Sometimes we just need to learn the hard way. Let us never think that we can have it our way and expect God's favor and blessing. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:10). There are times that we can be pursuing something that's good but that God did not initiate. It's been said, "what God doesn't intiate he does't appreciate." But when God is in it we can trust that "God's will done in God's way will never lack God's supply." Let God reign supreme in your life so that it may never be said of you, "he got what he wanted but lost what he had."