Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither: and the Lord answered, Behold, hee hath hid himselfe among the stuffe. 1 Samuel 10:22 (KJV)
In this verse we encounter the moment during the public selection process at Mizpah when the Israelites were seeking a king. The whole nation had assembled, all the tribes gathered together, and the lot fell on Saul, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, indicating that God had chosen him. Yet when the people went to find Saul they could not locate him. They therefore enquired of the Lord once more, and the Lord answered that Saul was hidden among the baggage, the “stuff.”
This brief episode reveals several important truths. First, it shows Saul’s initial hesitation and insecurity about becoming king; he was literally hiding, perhaps out of fear of the responsibility that lay before him. That hidden posture foreshadows the later struggles Saul would experience in leadership and obedience. Second, the passage demonstrates God’s sovereign hand in selecting leaders. Even though Saul was reluctant and concealed himself, God still affirmed his choice, showing that divine election does not depend on human confidence.
The narrative invites us to trust in God’s plan even when we feel inadequate or fearful. Saul’s experience reminds believers that God may call us to tasks that seem beyond our comfort, yet He equips and reveals us in the right moment. The lesson is to avoid letting fear prevent us from fulfilling the purpose God has for our lives, and to rely on the assurance that the Lord knows where we are hidden and will bring us forward when His timing is right.
