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Hannah Vs. Peninnah

Writer's picture: Charles AaronCharles Aaron

Happy ending stories must have tragic beginnings. Yes! The rival Peninnah was there as a thorn in the flesh in Hannah's story. Having blessed with sons and daughters, Peninnah was proud enough to give Elkanah a healthy generation to remember his name. Nevertheless, God was not interested in Peninnah's children, though she was fruitful; instead, God decided to wait and bank on Hannah, who was barren.

Without surprise, Hannah's rival kept provoking and irritated her. Mostly, every year when the whole family went on to worship and sacrifice at Shiloh. Peninnah irritated Hannah to make sure that she would weep and refuse to eat the "Double Portion" of the meat given by her husband. And that's what her rival wanted from Hannah. (1 Samuel 1:7)

And the sacrificed meat given to Hannah was the Peace Offering. Among the offerings, the LORD God allowed men to eat only the Peace Offerings, which the Jews considered a special blessing provided by Yahweh. God, who closed the womb of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:5), but opened the hands of Elkanah to give her a "Double Portion" of Peace Offering, which she refused to accept because of her rival. Oh! What a loss.


Beloved, sometimes this is what happens to us. God withholds Specific Blessings (which is essential) in our life and waits for an opportune time to release. But we tend to think about what lacks and cannot handle our rivals' pressures and lose God's other blessings willingly (which is also essential).

And the opportune time came to Hannah when she prayed, "Give me a son, I will give him back to you." When God heard that, He would have said (big) Yes! I have been waiting for this phrase all these years. Shortly, Hannah was blessed with Samuel and gave him to God. And it doesn't stop there; she also bore three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21). Where she was found wanting, God made it abundant.


Points for Consideration:-

  1. Make sure to receive what God has kept for you (Vision/Calling/Will).

  2. Fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), not on your Rivals.

  3. Wait for the Opportune Time.

  4. Utter the words which God expects out of your mouth.

 

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