Unfair
Life just seems to be unfair at times. . .doesn't it? Unfair doesn't seem to describe parts of my life. To find out more go here. And you may have your own perspective of unfair. . .a loss of a child, a spouse who quits on the marriage and walks away like marriage is disposable, the loss of a job after many years of dedication, the way you're treated at school by your peers, a parent who struggles with an addiction or abuse, or the accusations and judgment of those within the church. Whatever it is, it's unfair to YOU!
I've always said that life isn't fair. No one promised life would be fair. And I'm not totally sure we want what's fair. After all, wouldn't it be fair for us to pay the penalty of our own sins, rather than Jesus?
Hannah's situation wasn't fair either, was it? Yet her life is sharply contrasted with that of Eli's, the head priest at the time. Here's Hanna who openly desired a son. She's a woman who pleaded with God to give her a son - not just any son, but one who would serve the Lord all the days of his life. Her desire was so deep that even Eli confused her pleas with the Lord with being drunk.
God heard and answered her prayers. He gave Hannah a child - not just any child, but a son! And as soon as he was old enough she brought the boy, Samuel, to the temple to offer him up to the Lord. You would think that would be enough. I mean, she IS giving up her ONLY son. It's not. . .at least it's not for Hannah. She also brings a bull, some flour, and some wine to sacrifice before the Lord.
After worshiping the Lord who answered her prayers Hannah then gives her only son to Eli to raise and to mentor into an instrument of God. She keeps her side of the deal. . .and walks away. MAN!!! How can she do that?! I mean, c'mon! If God gave me a child, much less a son, I would never let go of him. I could never entrust someone else to raise him. I couldn't do that. There's no stinkin' way! Who does that? How many of you are thinking, "What are you doing?!" Yet, Hannah turns and walks away. Not only that but 1 Samuel 2 records her prayer of rejoicing. A prayer that honors the name of God. A prayer that lifts up His name. Kinda makes you wonder, "How does she do it?"
Eli, on the other hand, was given two sons. Two sons who were to be raised to honor God as priests. . .men who were to serve the Lord. Men who were given the privilege of serving in the temple of the Most High. And yet, they are wicked and detestable in the eyes of God. These were men who had no regard for the Lord, nor honored His name. They took the best meat for themselves, meat that was meant for God as a sacrifice. They seduced and slept with the women who were serving at the temple. Here were Jewish priests acting like the priests of the Gentile gods. Even after Eli called them out, they basically spit in the eye of their father and in the eye of God. Eli didn't listen to God, either. . .God wanted them out, not just of the priesthood, but out of life. It's was God's will that they be put to death. Yet, Eli, continued to simply give them what amounted to stern warnings.
Doesn't seem fair does it? A woman who so desperately wants a son, then gets him and turns him over to a man who can't raise his own sons. A man whose own sons are detestable in the eyes of God. I don't get it. Then again, life isn't meant to be fair, is it?
We don't hear anything about Hannah after the story. But I believe she would see him on her yearly trips to the temple. And when she did, I tend to think, she was proud of her son and and thankful that God gave her Samuel. I also think she was glad that she did keep her side of the deal.
I think what I get from the story is that God honored Hannah as Samuel grew up to be one of the most powerful men in all of Israel. It was Samuel who anointed Israel's first king - Saul. It was Samuel who anointed Israel's greatest earthly king - David. It was Samuel whom people feared. And he served the Lord all the days of his life. . .honoring the Lord with his own obedience.
The problem with us is that we're near-sighted. We only see what is directly ahead of us and how things affect us NOW. God had plans for Samuel. Plans that Hannah knew nothing about. And what might seem unfair to us today, may be God's way of preparing us for plans we know nothing about. Plans that bring honor and glory to the name of the Lord.
So the next time you're thinking how unfair something is take a moment to ask God what He's up to and trust Him. Remember that God has plans that you or I cannot conceive. Incredible plans for those who love Him (1 Cor 2:9). I know, it's easier said than done. BELIEVE ME! But take a page from Hannah's life story and trust Him.
Mike
I've always said that life isn't fair. No one promised life would be fair. And I'm not totally sure we want what's fair. After all, wouldn't it be fair for us to pay the penalty of our own sins, rather than Jesus?
Hannah's situation wasn't fair either, was it? Yet her life is sharply contrasted with that of Eli's, the head priest at the time. Here's Hanna who openly desired a son. She's a woman who pleaded with God to give her a son - not just any son, but one who would serve the Lord all the days of his life. Her desire was so deep that even Eli confused her pleas with the Lord with being drunk.
God heard and answered her prayers. He gave Hannah a child - not just any child, but a son! And as soon as he was old enough she brought the boy, Samuel, to the temple to offer him up to the Lord. You would think that would be enough. I mean, she IS giving up her ONLY son. It's not. . .at least it's not for Hannah. She also brings a bull, some flour, and some wine to sacrifice before the Lord.
After worshiping the Lord who answered her prayers Hannah then gives her only son to Eli to raise and to mentor into an instrument of God. She keeps her side of the deal. . .and walks away. MAN!!! How can she do that?! I mean, c'mon! If God gave me a child, much less a son, I would never let go of him. I could never entrust someone else to raise him. I couldn't do that. There's no stinkin' way! Who does that? How many of you are thinking, "What are you doing?!" Yet, Hannah turns and walks away. Not only that but 1 Samuel 2 records her prayer of rejoicing. A prayer that honors the name of God. A prayer that lifts up His name. Kinda makes you wonder, "How does she do it?"
Eli, on the other hand, was given two sons. Two sons who were to be raised to honor God as priests. . .men who were to serve the Lord. Men who were given the privilege of serving in the temple of the Most High. And yet, they are wicked and detestable in the eyes of God. These were men who had no regard for the Lord, nor honored His name. They took the best meat for themselves, meat that was meant for God as a sacrifice. They seduced and slept with the women who were serving at the temple. Here were Jewish priests acting like the priests of the Gentile gods. Even after Eli called them out, they basically spit in the eye of their father and in the eye of God. Eli didn't listen to God, either. . .God wanted them out, not just of the priesthood, but out of life. It's was God's will that they be put to death. Yet, Eli, continued to simply give them what amounted to stern warnings.
Doesn't seem fair does it? A woman who so desperately wants a son, then gets him and turns him over to a man who can't raise his own sons. A man whose own sons are detestable in the eyes of God. I don't get it. Then again, life isn't meant to be fair, is it?
We don't hear anything about Hannah after the story. But I believe she would see him on her yearly trips to the temple. And when she did, I tend to think, she was proud of her son and and thankful that God gave her Samuel. I also think she was glad that she did keep her side of the deal.
I think what I get from the story is that God honored Hannah as Samuel grew up to be one of the most powerful men in all of Israel. It was Samuel who anointed Israel's first king - Saul. It was Samuel who anointed Israel's greatest earthly king - David. It was Samuel whom people feared. And he served the Lord all the days of his life. . .honoring the Lord with his own obedience.
The problem with us is that we're near-sighted. We only see what is directly ahead of us and how things affect us NOW. God had plans for Samuel. Plans that Hannah knew nothing about. And what might seem unfair to us today, may be God's way of preparing us for plans we know nothing about. Plans that bring honor and glory to the name of the Lord.
So the next time you're thinking how unfair something is take a moment to ask God what He's up to and trust Him. Remember that God has plans that you or I cannot conceive. Incredible plans for those who love Him (1 Cor 2:9). I know, it's easier said than done. BELIEVE ME! But take a page from Hannah's life story and trust Him.
Mike
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