Compound Error: 1 Samuel 13:1-7
Good leaders don’t compound mistakes with even worse mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes; good leaders admit and correct their poor decisions. Almost all mistakes can be overcome, but only those who acknowledge their poor choices and seek to make better ones can genuinely overcome.
Saul lives for a year before assuming a kingly role. He reigns as king for two years before mustering a standing army. We know very little about Saul’s initial three years, but given the amount of stories involving conflict remaining in 1 Samuel, we can assume that the first three years of Saul’s reign were peaceful.
Saul divides his soldiers between himself and Jonathon, his son. Saul keeps the larger force to himself. Perhaps Jonathon is only leading a skirmish. Maybe Jonathon attacked the weaker position so Saul could have the larger portion of soldiers to handle the Philistine response. More likely, Saul selfishly wanted the larger group of protection around himself. We don’t know Saul’s motivation for splitting up the men, but it could easily read as mistake number one.
Jonathon is victorious. He routs the Philistine encampment at Geba. To announce the victory, Saul sends messengers throughout Israel blowing trumpets and declaring the victory message. Saul defeated the Philistines at Geba.
The problem is the message is a lie. Jonathon defeated the Philistines. Saul was the king, of course. Jonathon’s actions happened under Saul’s authority as king. Only through a technicality could Saul claim he defeated the Philistines. Here is mistake number two.
Considering Saul kept the bigger portion of men in addition to informing Israel he defeated the Philistines, Saul’s actions read darkly. Saul looks concerned about himself, his glory, and his own needs. He appears willing to promote his own glory by taking glory from his own son! It looks like megalomania is ready to rear its ugly head.
As expected, the Philistines respond. They muster a horde of chariots, a smaller horde of horsemen, and enough troops to be as countable as the sand of the seashore. Saul’s short-sightedness becomes apparent. Saul gained victory at Jabesh-gilead when over 300,000 people came to support the defense of the Hebrew land. Yet, when Saul attacks the Philistines, he only takes 3,000 soldiers. While trying to muster more soldiers, the soldiers he brought begin to desert. They hide in caves. They cross over the Jordan to escape the battlefield.
Most people aren’t dumb. They will follow a leader who has a good plan and who seems to understand the context around them. Most people will abandon a leader when the plan falls apart because megalomania compounds their mistakes. Saul made several bad choices so far, and it cost him the loyalty of his men.
Everyone makes mistakes, even good leaders. The key is handling the mistakes in context. People can forgive leaders who make mistakes under difficult circumstances. However, good leaders don’t compound mistakes with even worse mistakes.
