“But to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah,
but the Lord had given her no children.
[This embarrased and grieved Hannah] and her rival provoked
her greatly to vex her, because the Lord had left her childless.”
1 Samuel 1:5, 6
There are times I feel like Hannah. It seems like people
are getting on with life and here I am still waiting…….
They look and wonder then ask, dude???
What’s going on? Why haven’t you got that, why aren’t you where
we at? Is everthing okay? What’s wrong with you?
What about you? Do you ever feel like Hannah?
I wish I had the answer but I didn’t and that is what Hannah
felt like. She was embarrased and grieved. There was nothing
she could say…..the Lord had left her childless!
Off course there was a reason she was barren. God had a plan
for Hannah but it was hard for her to understand. Peninnah was her
oppressor. It’s hard to understand for all of us I guess. We need to
know that God is good! His plan for us is good no matter how hard
things get.
We hear a lot of Peninnah in the first chapter. She is in Hannah’s
face and in life we will have Peninnah’s. Peninnah was provoking
her out of jealousy. The people who are ridiculing you have their
reasons but don’t worry about them. There will always be
Peninnah’s in your life!
But then at the right time God came to her rescue.
“The family rose early the next morning, worshiped before
the Lord, and returned to their home in Ramah.
Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. “
1 Samuel 1:19
The Lord remembered Hannah!
Hannah may of thought God had forgotten her but it wasn’t
true. God was up to something. He had a plan for her life.
He remembered her and gave her her heart’s deepest desire!
God has not forgotten you friends. You are on His mind.
He will silence the Peninnah’s in your life by giving you
what you have asked for! No matter how long you have waited,
He remembers you.
We don’t hear of Peninnah after the Lord remembered Hannah.
We don’t hear her provokings, her ridicules, her words of hate.
God silenced her voice completely and that is His plan for you too.
It grieves Him when people speak against you.
His plan is to silence her voice in your life completely!
“Hannah prayed, and said, My heart exults and triumphs in
the Lord; my horn (my strength) is lifted up in the Lord.
My mouth is no longer silent, for it is opened wide over my
enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.”
1 Samuel 2:2
Peninnah had managed to silence Hannah’s voice. Hannah
had believed what Peninnah was saying. So she remained
silent BUT God made it possible for her to open her mouth!
Yipeeee….!!!!
The enemy’s goal is to shut you up always. He doesn’t want you
praising the Lord and giving Him the glory. Don’t let the
negative voices in your life silence you. Don’t believe what
they are saying becasue it’s just not true!
We will not deny Hannah was barren but it was never
meant to last. Peninnah underestimated the power of God
in Hannah’s life. Remember, the situation you are in will not
last forever. God will open your mouth again! You will praise Him,
you exult Him because of His salvation in your life…..
“Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren
has borne seven, but she who has many children languishes
and is forlorn. “
1 Samuel 2:5
I believe this is a warning for all those who are proud and a
promise for those who will trust Him wholeheartedly.
Peninnah had children but that didn’t give her the right to
speak to Hannah like that. She got proud and in God’s eyes
that’s was unexceptable. God hates pride.
Pride affects us all but we must fight it. Even if I become a
preisdent, that should never be a reason to look down on anyone!
Humility says, ” I am not better than anyone, no matter
what position I hold, no matter what I own, no matter where
I come from.
“Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.”
Pride makes the full go out hiring themsleves out for bread.
There is no blessing found in pride.
But we know there is a blessing in being humble. So take
this warning seriously friends. Never get to a point where
you are too important for anyone. Never get to a place where
you are looking down on another person!
That’s a word for you and for me.
So after all is said and done remember,
God remembers you! He loves you and has a plan for you
no matter how hard things seem at the moment!
Be humble!
Blessings to you friends!
Rolain
photo credit: google images
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