Well, to answer this mysterious question, we must first know what an Agog is. (No, it has nothing to do with a festive yuletide drink.)
Okay, if you’ve followed my blog for a while, you already know that I enjoy nothing better than a good ‘ole dive into an obscure Bible story I thought I knew inside out but shining a new light on it proves I didn’t. Maybe you didn’t either.
So won’t you grab your Bible and turn with me to 1 Samuel 15, where we find Samuel the prophet charging Israel’s hot-today-tepid-tomorrow King Saul with the task of (for a change) listening and obeying Jehovah (Papa God’s Old Testament name) by attacking and destroying neighboring countrymen called the Amalekites as punishment for the track record of death and destruction that the Amalekite king, King Agog, has wreaked on Israel. This savage guy and his ancestors were bullies by any standard, wicked and merciless to those they conquered.
For bonus points, read verses 1-9 to get an overview of the story. (It’s fascinating!)
At first glance, annihilation of a whole community seems like a harsh edict from Jehovah, but when you dig a little deeper into Israel’s history, you see why Jehovah chose the land of the Amalekites to become the promised land of milk and honey for the homeless Israelites. The Creator of all People basically rued creating this rotten appendage of humanity and was ready to wipe them off the face of the earth.
Keep following me here, this part is a little convoluted: The Amalekites had been a thorn in the behunkus of the Hebrews (Israelites) since Amalek (original namesake of the Amalekites), who was the grandson of Esau (of Jacob and Esau fame), first turned to the dark side, fleeing far away from Jehovah and His path of righteousness back in Genesis 36:11-16 and Numbers 14:39-45.
Speaking of the dark side, Amalek did have some evil resemblance to modern insatiable conqueror Darth Vader, carried down generations to his hyper-aggressive, bloodthirsty Amalekite descendants, including the worst of the worst, King Agog.
The Atheist Amalekites despised the God-fearing Israelites and viciously attacked them every chance they got. (*Sound like anybody you know in today’s world?) Their two most famous wars (Israel won both, which torqued the Amalekites off even more) were, firstly, the time the Israelites could be victorious in the battle only when Moses’ hands were raised in submission to Jehovah (keeping Moses’ hands up ended up being a group effort by his brother Aaron and bestie Hur) – found in Exodus 17; and secondly, when Jehovah promoted reluctant farmer Gideon to battalion commander and reduced his army to a pitiful handful before smiting the smithereens out of the Amalekites (who had teamed up with the Mideonites, another Jehovah-sneering tribe) – found in Judges 7.
Okay, that’s why Jehovah ordered the TOTAL destruction of the Amalekites, including wicked King Agog, in our 1 Samuel 15 passage. Note the important word: TOTAL. According to Jehovah, not even a shred of the Amalekites existence was worth saving.
Saul knew the history. He had seen the power of Almighty Jehovah. He heard the order. And he was well aware of the consequences of ignoring the Word of God. But he did it anyway. Instead of the extermination of the king, his subjects, and all their property, Saul kept for himself (and allowed his people to keep) the choicest livestock and “all that was good” among the Amalekite property (1 Sam 15:8).
Not only that, but Saul captured King Agog alive and took him home as some sort of trophy to stoke his own ego.
The truth caught up with Saul when Samuel confronted him about Jehovah’s wrath concerning his sin and disobedience, and Saul tried to blame it on everybody but himself (1 Sam 15; 10-35). The LORD wasn’t buying it, though, and Saul was fired as king of Israel. Samuel had to finish the job Saul had shirked in dispatching King Agog and then divorced himself and his services (of representing Jehovah) from Saul until the day of Saul’s death (v. 35).
But worse than physical death in many ways, Saul had to live with the shame and hollowness of spiritual death – separation from God – in the awful knowledge that “the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel” (also v. 35).
Oh, man. I don’t know about you, but that last sentence of verse 35 sends a dagger through my heart. I cannot imagine living my life knowing that Papa God had regrets over something I chose … or thought … or did. Like dragging wicked King Agog around with me even after my heavenly Father gave me TOTAL victory over him and made it clear that I should completely rid my life of his horrible influence.
Yet I know deep in my heart that I’m guilty of just that.
Only my Agog isn’t a person, it’s a bad habit that I’ve prayed for deliverance from for years. And Papa God has delivered me from that nasty habit over and over again, but I just can’t seem to claim TOTAL victory in the Lord’s strength and live like it’s really happened. I just keep dragging my Agog around, keeping it alive when it should be dead, allowing it to have power over me when it should have absolutely none.
As usual, I’m sure that it’s no coincidence that Papa God brought this passage and these insights front and center to me at this specific time. My Agog is something I need to deal with once and for all and expunge from my life. Every shred of it. Even the memory of it. So that my personal Agog won’t ever be the catalyst for Papa God’s regrets when He looks at me.
How about you, dearest BFF (Blessed Friend Forever)? Are you ready to answer the hovering question – what’s your Agog?
Please do let me hear your thoughts in the comments below. I value your opinion and so do the other members of our BFF community.
P.S. Last chance to get your name in the hat for my Mother’s Day Bless Your Heart Giveaway! Just click on “Freebies” at my website DeboraCoty.com and then the giveaway to find details on how to enter. **Important: Remember to let me know when you complete one of the entry requirements (all are easy peasy) so I can make sure your name is in the drawing to be held on May 10 … You can’t win if your name’s not in the fedora!