God And The Babysitters.

"...I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life..." (First Samuel 1:11)

Hannah's prayer was really radical. And, on the first read, her prayer seems counterproductive. She had spent years in anguish because of Peninnah's bullying tactics. Why would Hannah promise God that her son would be given over to Him? How would anyone know that Hannah even had that one, if he were not in her home? Who would educate her son in the ways of the Lord?

But such it was. Hannah makes a transaction with God, Samuel is born and weaned, and given over to the care of... Eli?

Chapters 2 and 3 of First Samuel give details on the condition of Eli's heart and household. Suffice it to say that no spiritually sensible parent would drop off their young son into such an environment. But Hannah's promise was made with no strings attached! Samuel's place was in the house of the LORD, and God's power would not be compromised by the deviance of Eli and his sons.

It's a story for today. We have many pastors and leaders working in the company of "colleagues" who, like Eli and his sons, have given themselves over to thievery and sexual immorality. Our prayer is that, as in the case of Samuel, we will see godly men and women holding tightly to God's truth even as their co-workers fall away.

Hannah was not worried because she had a sure word from the Lord.
Have you heard from Him today?