1 Samuel 10:3
““Then you will go on forward from there, and you will come to the oak of Tabor. Three men will meet you there going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three young goats, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine.”
What does 1 Samuel 10:3 mean?
Samuel is giving Saul specific signs to confirm that God has chosen him as king. These aren't random details—they're concrete markers that will help Saul know the message is true and that the Spirit of God is actually working in his life. When we're uncertain or afraid (as Saul clearly is about this enormous calling), God often meets us with tangible evidence we can see and touch. The three men with their gifts represent provision and blessing. Saul will encounter them as he travels toward Bethel, a place sacred to Israel's faith, which underscores that this calling is spiritually grounded. By the time these signs come to pass, Saul's doubts will have had a chance to settle, and he'll recognize God's hand directing his path forward.