Over the last week I have been doing lots of reading about a story right at the start of 1 Samuel. I was serving in our Kids Church a couple of weeks ago and a lady started to share from this story. God started to ask me some questions. The day after I started a new reading plan on Faith from You Version and the same verse was on day 1.
I started to study this story and passage from a lady called Hannah. God started to speak to me on the following
- Circumstance
- Identity
- Faith
- Breakthrough
As we build our lives these 4 areas, our perception of them and how we respond to them seem to be key in what God has for us.
Hannah’s Circumstance Was Lack!
Often we look at what we haven’t got in comparison to what we have got. There seems to be a hint of comparing to the other wife. I am sure that happens today in all walks of life. Do we ask ourselves questions like “I wish I had that!” “If only I had that like Dave!”
Hannah at the start of 1 Samuel 1 did not have a child and that circumstance was screaming at her. It seemed to define her and she seemed to compare herself because of this apparent lack!
1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphitet from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
Hannah now has an identity crisis
Hannah now is looking at her circumstance and what Peninnah is saying about her. Its easy to do isn’t it? especially in today’s culture. We are driven by a culture of get the next toy, keeping up with the Jones and if you don’t you are inferior and are lacking something. Lets break that thinking today – YOU LACK NOTHING! Hannah bought in to her identity coming from what she does or does not have. Your identity does not come from what we produce yet rests in our creator.
3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord.4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
Hannah starts to use FAITH and look to the Lord
Its so easy in life to lack at circumstance, get our identity from the wrong place. I find it interesting when it says
“Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb”
When we read this, do we read it was a permanent closure or a temporary closure? When we go to a shop and its closed, we don’t expect that its closed forever. Its just closed for now. That was the same for Hannah, her womb was closed but in order for it to become open, faith was required. She seeked God with all of her heart and when
Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
A Word Of Encouragement
As the story moves on, Hannah’s spirit seems to be lifted by a word of encouragement from a Godly man. In today’s context that word of encouragement doesn’t have to come from a Senior Pastor but from a man or woman who is in tune with the Spirit and Gods heart for His people.
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
Hannah leaves encouraged, upbeat with fresh hope. No longer fixed on circumstance but from God. Her identity has shifted from her lack and now resides in the Living God!
Hannah’s Breakthrough Also Relates To HER Actions
Imagine if Hannah still looked at the circumstance, her identity wasn’t in God instead it was from her lack. What if she decided not to go up the mountain and worship God. God requires obedience to trusting in Him through Faith.
19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,t saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
What would have happened if she concentrated so much on what hadn’t happened in comparison to what could have happened. Imagine if she decided to stay in her pity and decided not to get intimate with her husband! She wouldn’t have recieved her breakthrough.
Application
- Whatever we are faced with our identity doesn’t change.
- We are Sons and Daughters of the King.
- Faith overcomes circumstance
- An encouraging word lifts a situation.
- In order to receive breakthrough we need to position ourselves and be ready to take action.
