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"Rest at Shiloh"
...... Verse 19
Eli (the one who should have given her the most comfort; the most pity, understanding, and direction) failed Hannah, miserably, that day. Even priests are prone to make mistakes.
Eli saw his own son's actions, heard tell about them. Yet, he hid his face from them (2:12,22 and 3:13-14). He saw Hannah crying out to God and he misjudged her. He watched her, in her misery, and gave her wrong advice.
Eli watched her movements; her actions. Yet, he misunderstood them. He thought she was drunk! Outward appearances aren't always what they seem! He didn't know what was going on inside Hannah's heart. Hannah defended herself. She didn't let Eli's remark discourage or offend her because, at this point, she had her eyes fixed totally on God (1:14-16).
Still, Eli did give Hannah a special key, that day, and a blessing; "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
Philippians 4:6-7 says; "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
The next thing Hannah did was she laid down.
Hannah had to make a sacrificial prayer ... "An Isaac Prayer".
All God was requiring of Hannah' was a surrendering up of her will. He'd been planning on blessing her all along. But Hannah had to first come to the point, in her walk with the Lord, where she was willing to give up the child of her dreams, her Isaac; what she wanted most in life, before she even held him in her arms.
Our God is not a cruel Father to watch Hannah suffer like she did. But, our Father is a jealous God and He must come first in the lives of His children. (Exodus 34:14)
Hannah was forced to give up her "precious Isaac." (The name "Isaac" in Hebrew means "laughter.") Hannah sacrificed her dream, that which brought joy to her heart. She gave up her will and found peace, that day, at Shiloh. She found rest for her weary soul.
Sometimes, we're forced to do the same thing Hannah did, because we grasp hold of things too tightly and won't let go of them.
God has to be first in our lives and He will, sometimes, with hold blessings from us until we're ready to give Him first priority in our lives.
Hannah and Abraham had something in common. They both had to sacrifice a dream; their heart's desire. Hannah had to sacrifice hers before she received it. Abraham had to sacrifice his after he already had it. (Genesis 22:1-19)
Hannah submitted, surrendered, and sacrificed her heart's desire; her most cherished dream. She vowed it would be God's will, and no other.
The next thing Hannah did was, she got up,and went on her way. She started walking. She trusted God; had faith in believing.
Hannah did the same thing that Abraham did. He hoped against hope. Romans 4:18 says, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became ..."
Hoping gave birth to believing, believing to knowing. Hannah's circumstances were still the same, nothing had changed, except for Hannah. She was still barren in her womb, but no longer in her heart. For, now, she was filled with hope for the future. She still had no child. But, inward changes had been made. Ointment had been applied to Hannah's wounded spirit at Shiloh, that day, when she offered it up to the Lord as a sacrifice. New hope had been birthed within her.
Hannah stood up! She was able to stand on her own. Sometimes, people are so broken and wounded that they need others to help them to their feet. Remember Peter, in Acts 3:1-11, when he healed the crippled beggar. Verse 7 says, after he took "... him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong."
And in Acts 9:36-41, in the healing of Tabitha, Dorcas, verse 41, says he; "... took her by the hand and helped her to her feet ..." Maybe she wasn't strong enough to get up on her own. Hannah got up and went on her way!
Hannah left Shiloh, that day, with a new spirit. I imagine Peninnah's ridiculing never bothered her again. Yes, Hannah had been broken, but she was soon to be blessed... "... Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him." 1:19-20
Hannah received her blessing from the Lord. "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD ..." 1:27-28.
God gave Hannah three times as much as she'd given him, which proves that you cannot out give God. "And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters." 2:21
"Lord, make me like bread ...
Blessed by you, broken by you, given to others."
' 2005 by Dot McGinnis
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/
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