Dependence + “Hannah’s Lack Was From the Lord.”
Hannah’s Lack Was From the Lord.
Last night, I read 1st Samuel chapter 1 to the kids. As I read, the words, “but the Lord had shut up her womb…” (v. 6) and (v. 7): “And her adversary provoked her sore, for to make her fret, Because the Lord had shut up her womb.” WOW! Sometimes, “my lack” is from the Lord.”
“Am I willing to lack what you withhold?” (Elisabeth Elliott)
I have often fought my deficiencies and regretted “my lack,” but that line changes everything! Hannah’s barren condition was of the Lord. Her adversary used it to provoke her and make her fret, worry, and tremble, and yet, Scripture says a second time, “The Lord had shut up her womb.” The Lord knew the future; He saw the big picture. He knew that Hannah’s lack would produce several results:
1. Gave her a passion in prayer that she would not otherwise have had. “…but have poured out my soul before the Lord…” (v. 15)
2. Caused her to lay hold of the promises of God. V. 18 says, “The woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early and worshipped…” Hannah was able to change her behavior as a reflection of her faith.
3. Her lack provided her with the ability to lay what was nearest and dearest to her down at the feet of Jesus. It gave her the ability and willingness to give her promise back to God: v. 24, “And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, …and brought him into the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.” (v. 28) “Therefore, I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.” Her lack provided her with an ability to give a painful sacrifice.
4. Her lack provided her and nation with a future leader. “And the child grew on, and was in favor both with the Lord, and also with men.” (1 Sam. 2:26) “And the child ministered unto the Lord before Eli.” (3:1) Samuel became a leader, priest, and prophet for God’s chosen people. He anointed the first king over Israel, and when Saul became full of himself, it was Samuel that was lead to a yet-undiscovered shepherd boy who was keeping the sheep. Without Hannah’s lack, there would have been no passionate promise to give back to the Lord, and without her faithfulness to keep that promise, there would have been no Samuel. God could’ve and would’ve raised up a leader another way, but he didn’t. He “shut up her womb.” He broke her heart because He saw her future.
5. Her lack, which produced a promise and a sacrifice, allowed her to WORSHIP. Her sacrifice did not produce sorrow, but rejoicing: (2 v. 1): “My heart rejoices in the Lord…there is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any Rock like our God…the Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up…He raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth the beggar our of the dunghill, to set them among princes….HE WILL KEEP THE FEET OF HIS SAINTS.” Wow!
Do not despise your “lack,” for it may be your lack, your deficiency, that will push you into passionate pursuit, to sacrifice, and to worship. And it may be your lack that paves the way for a future leader and for future generations.
Let the lack push you into Jesus!
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