(1 Samuel 1:1-28) Now there was a man from Ramathaim-zophim from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of armies in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there. 4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; 5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival, moreover, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 And it happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, that she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat. 8 Then Elkanah her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you not eat, and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
9 Then Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she made a vow and said, “Lord of armies, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your bond-servant and remember me, and not forget Your bond-servant, but will give Your bond-servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”
12 Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were quivering, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought that she was drunk. 14 Then Eli said to her, “How long will you behave like a drunk? Get rid of your wine!” 15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman despairing in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your bond-servant a useless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your request that you have asked of Him.” 18 She said, “Let your bond-servant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
19 Then they got up early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him of the Lord.”
21 Then the man Elkanah went up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, so that he may appear before the Lord and stay there for life.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Stay until you have weaned him; only may the Lord confirm His word.” So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull, one ephah of flour, and a jug of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy to Eli. 26 And she said, “Pardon me, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. 27 For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my request which I asked of Him. 28 So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
First of all, I'm going to mention it again, God never endorses polygamy! He said that a man should leave his family and cleave to his wife (singular). And as we can see in the chapter, having two wives meant that there was a "rival" and a "favorite". Always a recipe for unrest.
Now, not many people in North America actually have more than one wife, but by marrying and then divorcing and then marrying again... one can then "have more" than one spouse. Especially IF there are children involved with each relationship, now one must continue a "relationship" (at some level) with "the other spouse". The more - the NOT merrier. The more - the more complicated. The more headaches. The more work. (So not worth it!!! If one can at all avoid it!!!)
Now, wow, let's address verse 8. Having a husband should be WAY different than having a child!!! It is a totally different kind of relationship. But what this husband didn't get, was that his attention was divided by not only two women, but the children from the other woman, as well. Again - so complicated! But let's keep in mind God's plan. God should always come first! Then the spouse. Then the children. Although if you already have children and you are marrying again, the children have to be very much considered in your decision! But...
God is the one who fulfills our lives and completes us. He is the one who gives hope, joy, comfort, peace, security and strength. If we have prayed about it, and it is His will that a person marry, He will send the right person at the right time. And if it is His will that a couple has children, He will allow that to happen.
Obviously, people can have children when they are not living in God's will or even praying to the Lord and asking Him for this. If this happens, a person has to choose how they will move forward in life, from that point forward. At any point, when we sin, we have to make the choice to either continue on in sin and doing things our own way, or turn/return to the Lord and do things His way.
Today, we don't have the scenario as Hannah and her son had. But we are to "dedicate" our children and all our loved ones to the Lord. This doesn't save them, but it is a decision that one makes to fully trust God that He will look after them. Whatever we have is the Lord's anyway, so by not allowing fear and worry to interfere, we can know that the Lord will take much better care for them than we ever could. At the same time, "dedicating" our children is a decision and promise that we make to raise our children in God's will, in HIs strength, teaching them about the Lord, and equipping them for life so they can be "independently" dependent on the Lord!
As we "give" all our loved ones to the Lord, even though we are to guide and teach, we cannot control what they do or don't do. Each individual has a free will, and has to make decisions for their own lives. Easier said than done" - to NOT worry about our loved ones OF ANY AGE!!! All we can do is to do as we should, and PRAY!!!
God already knows what is in our hearts!!! So when we are struggling with pride or selfishness or frustrations or worry or fear or despair... we should talk to the Lord about it, confess any sinful feelings, and allow Him to work in our hearts. Without a doubt, He is faithful to do that! He is the great Counselor! No matter what happens in life, He can give us peace, comfort, contentment, fulfillment, joy and courage, to move forward in His will and in His strength.
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