Sunday 10 February, 2013

18 But the boy Samuel served the Lord. He wore a sacred linen apron. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe. She took it to him when she went up to Shiloh with her husband. She did it when her husband went to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife. He would say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman. May they take the place of the boy she prayed for and gave to him.” Then they would go home. 21 The Lord was gracious to Hannah. She became pregnant. Over a period of years she had three more sons and two daughters. During that whole time the boy Samuel grew up serving the Lord.

What a sacrifice Hannah and Elkanah made: Hannah had wanted a baby so desperately and when God cialis without prescription answered her prayer, she dedicated

the gift back to God! Samuel went on to be an incredible prophet and played a pivotal role in Jewish history when he anoints Israel’s first and second Kings, Saul and David.

 

But that is the bigger story and in this short passage we see a small boy, dressed as a priest – in clothes that would imitate the Viagra special clothing that the priests wore. Cute!

 

We are also informed that God blesses Hannah with three more sons and two daughters.

 

It is in these small details that we can learn about the heart, nature and character of God:

– He adores a child dressed in adults clothing, imagining and playing out the role of what he would one day become.

– He is generous to those who pray and petition him, and in this case He showed great generosity to those who made a great sacrifice.

 

God, help me to understand more of your character. Amen.

 

Written by Justin Ware