EVER HEARD OF SAMUEL?

1 Samuel 1:1-2 tells of a man named Elkanah who “had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.” The word no here is translated elsewhere as incurable, infinite, and helpless. Her situation seemed absolutely hopeless and terminal with no end in sight. The “natural” evidence her adversary presented in her trial of faith was undeniable: She had gone childless “year after year.” Thank God the Judge of Heaven “overruled” the lesser authority of Peninnah and all she stood for!

Known unto God are all his works from the foundation of the world: You can be sure that God had declared to Hannah the beginning from the end. God had given her a “heavenly vision” through the promise of a son but the “vision had tarried.” With no reservations the scripture tells us that “The LORD had shut up her womb.” Revelation 3:7 proclaims that the Lord “openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.” Notice it did not say that the Lord shutteth and would never open that which He had shut. It says that no man can open what He has shut: Man can never open for you what the Lord has prepared for you! No amount of networking, no working the phones, and no amount of positioning or “aligning” yourself with the apostles of our day will bring it to pass. It is the Lord’s work and in his time no man can stop it! Only the Lord can open the door of your womb and birth the promise He has given you.

Hannah knew that Peninnah’s children could never answer the ministry that God was birthing in her, that which represented the pure Word of God. Peninnah stands for that which comes easy and has never had to endure anything. While Hannah refused to “lower the standard” of true ministry, Peninnah had no trouble adding to the growing numbers of Phinehas and Hophni’s “youth revival” with all of its fog machines and blind faith in the “prophetic” word. Peninnah was in the baby manufacturing business, but only that which is of inferior quality can be mass produced cheaply: Does anyone remember her children’s names? Ever heard of Samuel?

Have you long waited for God’s promises in your life? Do not fret when others seemingly leave you far behind as they build their “mega” ministries. The Lord’s greatest work will be for those who have kept the word of his patience: “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:37). The Lord will have the final say: “The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that

the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble” (1 Samuel 2:4-5).

“For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18).