Biblical Figures of Adoption, Samuel

Samuel

~Samuel’s mother chose to obey by giving up the cherished moments of childhood in order to help fulfill God’s will. In a way, she chose Samuel’s role in life, but he, too, had to be obedient in order for things to fulfill God's will. Not our own.

~Hannah, what if she disobeyed and neglected the purpose behind the promise? I believe Samuel would have grown up feeling like a fish out of water - like he didn’t belong. Never able to please, as he wasn’t in the role he was meant to take on. He was born and given life for a specific purpose.

~Israel would have remained off God’s favor until an obedient person heeded the call.

~Hannah’s self-worth demonstrates her faith through obedience (We can undo the blessing).

~Great sacrifice, as her love for God is greater than the heart-wrenching choice to obey and let go of Samuel.

~God blessed her obedience, although the sacrifice had to come first. Her faith allowed her to believe in God’s fulfillment.

~Expression of dedication: No razor to Samuel's head. A covenant. Have you abstained from activities to set you apart?

~Hannah uses a special term, “Lord of Hosts” or Lord of Spirits, first seen in the Bible, “Master of the universe”. The Great Spirit.

~God was angry with Eli for his passive, almost indulgent attitude and parenting towards his sons. For someone in spiritual authority, this is contradictory and hypocritical, as Eli would expect everyone else to discipline and correct their children, by the law. He wasn’t upholding the laws within his own unit, which he expected other Israelites too.

~Inherited authority can be dangerous for two reasons:
A. No guarantee the descendants will be competent or faithful to the call. 

B. Being born into power allows for a corrupting influence. Entitlement, corruption, no thought for anyone's growth but their own. 

~Eli was given a hard task during a very difficult, ungodly time in Israelite history. His sons, however, saw their position as a divine possession and title and nothing more. (1 Samuel 2:25; I Samuel 2:14)

~When the original purpose is compromised, corrupted, or neglected, the entire unit suffers. We see this within businesses, governments, churches, and even family units. (Ecclesiasties 2:18-19)

~When inserted a role, there is little need for self-discipline, fine-tuning of skills, and a servant's heart are qualities that and leader needs to possess to guide a successful business, govern, church, and family.

~A successful 1st generation entrepreneur who has been successful in building and gathering the respect of the community, passes off this success to his firstborn son. By the 3rd generation, the foundation of the business will most likely suffer devastating consequences. This is due to the entitlement and lack of care that the first generation had in building the business.

~Eli knew his sons couldn’t bear the task the Lord needed completed. (1 Samuel 3:1-4; 1 Samuel 7:3-7)

~Samuel becomes the leader of God’s chosen. Not due to self-serving ambition or entitlement, but because God gave him a calling, a vision, a purpose, greater than himself. He was raised and respected the skills and gifts he was given, and needed to lead the nation of Israel as it needed to be ruled. (1 Samuel 3:10-14; 3:19-41)

"These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anoninting teaches you concerning all things and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him." 1 John 2:26-27

I encourage you to do your own deep dives. There's so much more to learn than any man could teach us. Ask the Lord of Spirits, the Holy Spirit, to guide you. He has been patient and waiting for us...