This week we started looking at 1 Samuel and Ephesians. One of the things that really stuck out to us in 1 Samuel 1-3 was the amazing offering made by Hannah, Samuel's mom. She told God that if she was able to have a child she would give that child back to God. After that she became pregnant and Samuel was born. As soon as he was weaned she took him and gave him to Eli to be trained to serve God. The text seems to indicate that from that point on she saw him once a year. God gave her other children, but it is difficult for me to imagine giving up my only child knowing that I would only see him once a year. In some ways this is reminiscent of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac. In both cases amazing obedience to God and willingness to sacrifice is displayed.
Contrast this with the evil actions of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They were designated as priests, yet they were "worthless men" who had "no regard for God." These were the ones who were supposed to be models of what it meant to serve God, yet the real model is a previously barren women.
So what does real offering to God look like? Who are the people in your life who have given you a model worth following?
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