Have you ever received a blessing that suddenly became a stumbling block to serving God? I have heard of people who prayed for specific blessings from God and when they received those blessings, the same people stopped serving God and even stopped attending church services. When they were contacted, their reply was that the same blessing they prayed for had kept them too busy to even have time to serve God and go to church. I don’t believe God gives stumbling blocks as blessings. Our own attitudes sometimes hinder us from serving God with the same blessing we have received. At other times, if we go ahead of God and find our own way, what we so much desire could end up leaving us colder in faith. If you are not ready to handle the consequences of what you are asking for, then don’t ask for it. For every blessing comes with a new level of commitment. Until you give God all your all even in your most blessed state, the same blessing will lead you astray from God. In 2 Kings 20, king Hezekiah asked for long life but he failed to be sensitive in what he did in those added years. The result was disastrous. Even the son born during that time to him, was the worst king ever. When we understand that every new level comes with new challenges, we are not overwhelmed but we live in readiness. Hannah’s story so far has demonstrated faith in God. Hannah’s commitment to God even as she prayed for a son was that that son will be given back to God. She made that vow and was committed to it. She knew the pain of letting go of her only son. But, a vow must be kept. After Samuel was born, the family continued their annual trip to Shiloh to worship. 1 Samuel 1:21-23 state this: “When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.” “Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord make good his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.” I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. (1 Samuel 1:27-28) Hannah was ready to fulfill her vow. She was ready to present the only son back to God. She knew that Samuel living in the house of God meant she would have less contact with him. Hannah was ready to bear the cost. She had committed to this and she had no excuse to God. “After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “Pardon me, my Lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:24-26). Eli must have been surprised by this woman’s courage. She made a vow and she was ready for the consequences. Hannah told Eli, “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.” (1 Samuel 1:27-28). Hannah let go of Samuel. She didn’t hold back. She didn’t complain that Samuel was too little to stay with Eli. She had no excuses. She just went to the same place of prayer and handed over the answer to her prayers back to God. The only heart desire was to have a child. Hannah didn’t hold on, she let go of her desire. Samuel was the manifestation of her prayer. She could have held on to show Peninnah that she has a son too. But, Hannah returned Samuel back to God as she had vowed. When Hannah gave back Samuel to God, she touched the heart of God. She had just one son and she willingly let go of him. She didn’t use her circumstances as an excuse to hold on to Samuel. Hannah’s son was no ordinary son. He became a voice of God in his generation. His mother ushered him into his prophetic ministry even before he was born. Hannah’s request was not to make her feel good. Her request was to give to God what God gives to her. Most of us have experienced specific lacks in our lives. We have encountered losses and pain. We have different things we look forward to having. But, do our desires advance God’s kingdom? We have learnt from Hannah’s story that God answers prayers. Our commitment should be this, no blessing from God will become a hindrance blocking our path to God. If you receive from God, be ready to give back to Him. Holding on and not letting go result in selfishness. However, like Hannah, we could give God our Samuel and God will give us back a generational prophet, a seer, a judge, a leader, a voice that silences other voices, and a kingmaker. As long as we hold on to our Samuel, he remains a child, but when we return him to the Lord, he becomes the voice of God.
top of page
bottom of page
Comentários