July 13-I Will Give
Journey through 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 1.1-20 “I will give him to the LORD”
Focus Verse-1 Samuel 1.11
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.”
Insight-There are so many things that our hearts long for. Things we desire so much that we feel empty without them. For Hannah, it was a son. What is so profound about her prayer is that she tells God as she prays that if He answers her prayer, she will immediately give back, or entrust her son back to Him. This seems to give a picture of a sense of something bigger than just wanting a child. Maybe it was just wanting to know that God heard her and that she could trust Him. I suppose it’s a way of recognizing who is really the source, the One in control. So often, when God answers our prayers and gives us something, we turn around and cling to that thing or even take credit for obtaining that. Hannah on the other hand, determined that if the prayer is answered, the answer belongs to God, not to her.
Active Response-I will entrust myself and my desires and needs to my Provider. I will recognize that everything I receive is a gift from Him and I will commit to entrusting all of myself to Him.
Father God, Thank you for your complete generosity and for your love that fills me with all things. Help me to entrust all of myself to you, for your glory. Amen.
Wow, I’ve never caught that when I’ve read this passage before. She does give him right back to God, and not just for awhile, but all the days of her life. She must know and trust God a lot to be able to do that. Which makes me think she also knows and understands things about God’s character that I’m just beginning to grasp. His goodness, his love for her and for others, his holiness, etc. etc.
There are so many needs all around us; in our own lives, but also in the lives of the people we see every day. “If prayer is answered, the answer belongs to God, not her.” I’m going to be thinking about that today.
God, help me to see that it’s all from you. Thank you for your generosity and all that you give to us. Help me to see your grace in all things, especially in prayer. Thank you for the answers that you give us whether they are what we want to hear or not. Thank you for your patience with us on this journey and above all for your love. Help me to trust you today Father. Amen.