A long time a go there was a woman named Hannah.  She worked hard at being a good wife and home builder.  She did her share chores and loved her husband.  But there was a problem.  She couldn’t bear children.  In the Israelite culture ,1100 s BC, it was a travesty if a woman couldn’t have kids especially male children.  The line would die out and so in that culture a family was counted blessed if you had sons.  Almost, as if God favored you more.

She also had to live with the thought that she shared her husband with another wife that, could have children!?  Talk about adding insult to injury.  The fact is, in the scriptures, it said that her hubby loved her more that the other.  Um, maybe he shouldn’t have married the other woman?  Ok I digress but that’s a topic for another day.   Guys don’t get any ideas…

Well she travels with old faithful, ahem, to the temple for one of the Jewish feasts (probably the feasts of Tabernacle) and listen to her prayers while there.

“O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”                                                                   1 Samuel 1:11 ESV

Would you believe it if I told you she goes home and gets pregnant?  So I imagine that the little promise pops up in her head and now she’s probably thinking, “How am I going to get out of this?”

Well, we couldn’t be more wrong…

After she weens him off of her milk she takes him to the temple.  Back then that was like three years.  No it’s not gross they didn’t have stores with pasteurized milk or formula in cans.  She drops him off at the temple and tells the high priest his name is Samuel which means possibly “offspring of God”  and leaves him.  Whoa!

I wonder how many of us parents are willing to give up a child, even to God himself? Unfortunately, if we say we can’t, then that shows how much we truly hold to the thought of God is sovereign and owns everything anyway.

Really, raising kids to the glory of God has nothing about your desires to love them it has to do with the ability to sacrifice your need for confirmation from them.  Let me put it this way.  Sometimes we need our kids more that they need us.  We use them for emotional stability. I know that I’ve done this.  If you are honest I think you’d say you’ve probably done the same thing.

Would you be willing to give God your child if it was a promise to Him no matter the emotional pain?  The answer will tell you a lot about yourself, your belief in God and your emotional stability.  Try and answer…

Three times I asked the boy to come down stairs after washing his hands.  Every time was, “ok daddy” but it never happened.  It was diner time and I had the baby and momma and Baylee were setting the table.  So usually being very patient I would get him, put him in time out and then make him wash his hands….but, this is a different day.

We have been working on following directions first time given.  This is essential when running a multi-child home. The direction is not a request but a demand. There is no choice other than to obey.  Why?… Because we run the house and he is my charge, he is a pre-Christian in training, it brings sanity to a home, it helps with his safety not to question us, and….I’m hungry .

So Charlee (my 4 month old) and I go up the stairs with my son’s most unliked cooking utensil, the Wooden Spoon.  Which my son always reminds me, “Daddy that no for spankin my hiney that for stirring!”  Well today it was my Samurai sword so when he saw me coming he took off downstairs and the only thing that saved his “hiney” was that it was firmly planted in his chair.

Now other than making you laugh when you see my son there is some similarities in this story.  I have been reading Jeremiah lately when God punishes Judah for their rebellion against Him.  Even though it was devastating it was better than turning the blind eye to the situation.

He had to correct them because they were His people, they belonged to Him.  Through them the Messiah would come so Judaism as we now know it had to happen.  They had to learn not to question His commands because it was for their own good.  His laws would bring order to a world that knew insanity.  In the end it would be His will over theirs.

Jeremiah 29:10-13 says it like this,

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

When I get Avery’s attention it is because I have plans for him.  Plans to be great.  Plans to be the “Salt & Light” of the world.  Plans to find peace  by living for God.  And God has the same plans for you.

God is a father that likes to get your attention because He loves and is committed to you.

Bottom line, if you see Him coming.  Run and save your behind! Because he has your best interests at heart but your ‘hiney” won’t like it.