Let's Make A Deal!

(I Samuel 1:11) - "And she vowed a vow, and said, O  Lord of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thine handmaid, but wilt give unto Thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."

 

Hannah's inability to have a child was directly linked to the fact that God was working in her life and was preparing her for the future.  Hannah was grieved in her heart due to her barrenness, not knowing that all the while God had a special plan for her life and her future.

 

It was due to Hannah's barrenness that caused her to really get serious enough concerning her desire to have a child that she, through her desperation, make a promise to God.  Hannah promised God that if He would allow her to have a "man child", she would give him back to the Lord for His service.  Hannah was not playing "Let's Make A Deal" with God, but was showing her devotion to Him by her willingness to dedicate her son to the work of the Lord.

 

Promises that you and I make are very important to the person or persons we make them to, but the promises we make to God are even more important.  If you read the rest of Hannah's life story, you will find that she kept her promise to God by giving Samuel back to Him.

 

God is also a promise keeper.  In fact there is not one promise that He has made that He has not kept.

 

If you have made promises to God, I pray that you have not gone back on your word.  One of the ways we can be faithful to God is to be faithful to keep and to fulfill the promises we have made to Him.

Those In Authority

(Numbers 12:10) - "And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous."

 

The questioning of spiritual authority is a very serious thing to God.  We know that God had chosen and called Moses to be the mediator between God and His people.  What God spoke to Moses directly, Moses was to share with the people of God.  What Moses shared with the people was the authoritative Word of God.

 

Not everyone agreed with the authority that God gave unto Moses.  Miriam's question of Moses' authority was the result of jealousy, that green-eyed monster that we all from time-to-time have to deal with.

 

When Miriam questioned the authority that God had given unto Moses, God smote Miriam with leprosy.  What God did was for the purpose of making an example of Miriam simply saying - "don't question my authority to choose whom I want to be the mediator between me and My people."

 

It has always been and will always be a serious thing to question God's authority or even question the God-given positions of authority that He has placed upon people of leadership.  To fight against God's will is a serious and dangerous place to be, knowing that it always results in God's judgment in some fashion or way.

 

Rather than questioning those who have spiritual authority, and those to whom God has placed in the position of having spiritual authority, try praying for them and Yourself that you can see that authority is a God-given blessing of leadership and guidance to His church.  Those who are in authority are never perfect or flawless.  They always need prayer!