God cheated

The love-hate relationship between Samuel and Saul was very complicated. Samuel's sons failed the people and their father. Would Samuel, in his old age, invest all of his fatherly love and expectations on Saul? It seemed probable. Such a speculation is able to explain why Samuel was angry (1 Samuel 15:11) and why Samuel mourned over Saul for a long time when God had rejected Saul (1 Samuel 16:1). The Hebrew word 'mourn' in this text is אָבַל which means 'mourn for the dead'. God's rejection is a death sentence and Samuel mourned for a long time. Samuel was very much attached to Saul.
However attached Samuel was to Saul, there would be time to terminate this emotional bond. "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;" (Ecclesiastes 3:4). God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king when Saul was still alive and kicking. Samuel was afraid. Saul must have been closely watching Samuel's every movement since God had, through Samuel, made it known to Saul that He had given the kingdom of Israel  to a neighbour of his, who is better than him (1 Samuel 15:28). Any irregular movement of Samuel would arouse Saul's suspicion. Not only would the life of Samuel, but also that of the future king would be at risk. Therefore, Samuel's concern was genuine (1 Samuel 16:2a). Did God deliberately provoke Saul into taking some stupid actions in order to kill him?
Now, the Lord taught Samuel how to deceive Saul: take a heifer with him to go down to Bethlehem. Tell everyone that he had come to sacrifice to the Lord and invite Jesse to the sacrifice (1 Samuel 16:2b-3). Is God allowed to do anything, even evil things in our eyes?
To a strategist, God is a greater strategist to outwit Saul. God had to protect Samuel and preserve David. He needed to ensure that His plan was unfolded to its fullness. The heifer was a simple decoy to confuse Saul of the real intention of God. Often, we employ such tactics without realizing it.
The tension between the Principal and the English Department is high. He is unable to reach out to the panel chairs of the Department. He needs to open up some inroads into the Department to get things done. Yesterday, the staff meeting was a stormy one. He failed to sell his staff deployment plan for the NSS. His salesmanship is poor. ("I don't bother to package my plan.") His logic is not consistent and hard to follow. ("You need to be patient. Let me finish first.") He doesn't like to be contradicted. ("Let us pray for more humbleness.") I am afraid nobody present would appreciate his ideas.
One day some years ago, I wore a red jacket with golden buttons. The Principal asked if it was my secondary school jacket. I did not contradict him. It was too trivial. But yesterday, the plan he tabled had not been thoroughly thought out. It would tremendously affect the future development of the school. Of course, we had to voice our inability to understand. If he insists on pushing his plan forward, he will not have our understanding. The Principal is a PhD. But he fails miserably to win our hearts. Or does he not?
Today, he called me into his office to have a heart to heart dialogue. He stressed several times we were both Catholics. In fact, John told me that from his observation, the Principal had been very restrained in the staff meeting. He would have flared up but he didn't. In particular, he had been very very patient towards my 'challenges'.
In actual fact, he needs to build a bridge into the English Department. He has antagonized both panel chairs and the English Department Secretary. I am the weakest link in the Department and am chosen. Less than an hour after our heart to heart dialogue, the Principal called and asked me "to help Shung Tak, to help the English Department and to help Brenda compile a table of projected teacher deployment of the English Department!" But I am afraid I am in no position to pass on his requests to the panel chairs. I failed miserably in mending fences. To a strategist, the Principal needs to be a smarter strategist. Unfortunately, he is no God. Worse, he denies. He always asks others to be humble instead.

My God, NSS will roll over us whether we are prepared or not. We are ill-prepared and are heading nowhere under the present leadership. But we can't just sit here like a lame duck. You have entrusted 1200 students in our hands. We can't afford to fail them. Come to our aid, I beseech Thee. I can't bear seeing Shung Tak fold up after 50 years of prayers and labour. Come Lord Jesus. May Your name be praised. Amen.