DEVO. 0513.24
“Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.” (1 Samuel 1:2 NLT)
- Right in the beginning of 1 Samuel we have the amazing, desperate story of Hannah.
- Her husband, Elkanah, had married her but she was unable to have children.
- The label “Barren” was not good in that day.
- It meant that there was no one to carry the family name.
- No one to leave a legacy.
- She would be looked down upon.
- But even though society would label her “useless”, God had already labeled her, “Useful”
- We need to be very careful what labels we put on people based on what they can do for us.
- Hannah’s name meant “Grace & Favor”
- Her husband decided to marry another woman who could produce children for him, Her name was, Peninnah, which meant “cold and abrasive”.
- We would look at them and say Peninnah is blessed and Hannah is cursed.
- We would create a study on how to be more like Peninnah.
- We would set up a heavily subscribed YouTube channel for Peninnah.
- So “Grace and Favor”, lived with “Cold and Abrasive”
- And just like oil & water, we know that these two don’t mix.
- Peninnah, lived up to her name. Scripture says that every year she provoked Hannah to irritate her.
- But this pushed Hannah to the only one who could help.
- She went to the steps of the temple of the Lord where she poured out all of her pain to the Lord and said, “Remember me, and if you give me a son, then I will give him back to you!”
- And in 1Sam. 20:17 Eli’s says, “May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”
- God heard her desperateness cry.
- God saw her tears!
- And from that empty womb, God showed Grace and favor!
- God blessed her with a child, Samuel, which means, “God has heard” or “Name of God”.
- So when she cried out to God, He filled Her with His Name!
- Out of her emptiness, He gave her complete fullness!
- When you feel empty, don’t let that define you!
- Let your emptiness pull you to the One who created you, who can fill you with His presence.
- Have a great Monday!
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