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I Samuel 2:18-21You may have heard the statement, "You can never outgive God." But how many of us really believe it? We all know about Hannah desperately begging God for a child and God granting her request. And most of us have read far enough along to know that Hannah made a coat for Samuel every year, which she took to him at the yearly sacrifice time. Imagine the joy of sewing that precious … [Read more...] about Hannah’s Prayer Path

I Samuel 2:11-18Wait up! Wait for me. Wait a minute….Wait, wait, wait. We hear the word "wait" and automatically think of a temporary hold. We see a sign that says "waiting room" and immediately picture people sitting in lethargy, yawning extensively.In our passage today, continuing in the story of Hannah, we arrive at the doorstep of Eli's wicked sons. Because the focus of this lesson is not … [Read more...] about Waiting… and “Action!”

I Samuel 2:6-10In chapter 2 of I Samuel, Hannah is praising God in prayer and thanksgiving. Her reflection of God's power and provision is full of depth! In the last entry, we discussed that verse 8 essentially describes the wonderful power of God to take the worst and exalt it to the best. Hannah describes this process as going from being a beggar in the "dunghill" (KJV) to being a princess in … [Read more...] about The Princess and the Pauper: From Spiritual Rags to Riches

I Samuel 2:6-10At this point in our study, we are halfway through Hannah's prayer of praise to God. Though she has just completely turned over her son to God and physically left him with Eli, she is praising God for all He has done and is going to do. One of my children started kindergarten this year and I wanted to sit on the couch all day the first day with a tissue box and tub of Starbucks … [Read more...] about What God and Superman have in common

A Standing Ovation:Our God the RockI Samuel 20:1-5At the end of chapter 19 in our study of Hannah, she has left her little Samuel at the tabernacle under Eli’s care. Can you imagine how this must have felt? When I read the next chapter, I am amazed at the attitude of Hannah. She is praising God with her whole heart! A paraphrase of the first five verses could read like this: “I’m not afraid to … [Read more...] about A Standing Ovation: Our God the Rock

Mission: Impossible Answers to Prayer 3I Samuel 19:20-28The last two entries in this series have been about impossible answers to prayer. The Biblical examples of this topic have been phenomenal. We have viewed examples of: the entire nation of Israel being freed from slavery, Elijah’s sacrifice to God being devoured by fire from heaven in the competition with the prophets of Baal, and … [Read more...] about Mission: Impossible Answers to Prayer 3

Mission: Impossible Answers to PrayerI Samuel 19:20-28We are currently paused in our story of Hannah long enough to look at a few Biblical examples of “impossible” answers to prayer. The last one I would like to consider before returning to the focal point of Hannah is outlined in Acts 12. The chapter is introduced with Herod killing James, the brother of John, and it pleasing the Jews so much … [Read more...] about Mission: Impossible Answers to Prayer 2

Mission: Impossible Answers to PrayerI Samuel 19:20-28What happens then when we pray? God answers! But does He always answer in the manner or timing in which we expect? Let’s pause in our story of Hannah for just a few moments to look at some other Biblical examples of seemingly impossible answers to prayer.The first example is a case of freedom from slavery. In Ex. 2:23-25, the children of … [Read more...] about Mission: Impossible Answers to Prayer