This week we have the opportunity to work with our sister church, Father’s House, and their upcoming women’s conference. While working with the staff, we engaged in their weekly staff worship session, a Bible college study class, and even their never ending *free* coffee/tea station. There’s also a Seattle Coffee Co. on the grounds. Bless, thank you Jesus!
While in the Bible study, we read 1 Samuel chapters 1-2; I don’t know if I’ve ever really read through this book, but I’m so glad I got the chance to do so with other people so we could engage in conversation about it. Let’s dive in, cause I realized some good stuff, y’all!
First of all, women today are constantly at war with ourselves. It all goes back to Genesis with the fall of man; in Genesis 3:15 God curses the serpent saying, “I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring…” Have you ever wondered about the little voices in our minds that tell us hateful things? Have you ever wondered where they come from? Have you ever wondered why they’re more prominent in women opposed to men?
Second, women are constantly at war with one another. Why do we go to war against each other? In 1 Samuel 1, we learn about the second wife of Elkanah. His first wife, Peninnah, is able to bare him children, but his second wife, Hannah, is barren and unable to produce children for her husband. Ever year at the temple during the time of sacrifice, Peninnah taunts Hannah; scripture doesn’t go into what exactly is being said, but I’m sure we can imagine the hurtful things she says.
A woman’s job in Biblical times were to produce children and heirs to their husbands, and Hannah was basically a disgrace in the eyes of others. So you can only imagine the hurtful things Peninnah would say to her. Scripture says Hannah would be reduced to tears and wouldn’t even be able to eat.
Hannah’s story does have a happy ending though! Hannah prays and pleads to God for a son and promises to give him to the Lord; scripture says He remembers her plea, and the barren Hannah becomes pregnant with a son. Hannah keeps her promise and takes Samuel to the temple where he is to be brought up and serve God by assisting the priest. God even blesses Hannah for her sacrifice by giving her 5 more children; she sacrificed her first and potentially only child, trusting that God would provide.
While there are hard times, it’s so amazing to look at this story and see how God provides. Whether it’s women pitted against each other or a woman and her mind against herself, we can trust to give it all to Jesus and know that our pleas will be heard. We can give up our insecurities, our hateful thoughts towards both others and ourselves, and what we deem as our faults. We can give it all to God, and rely on His faithfulness.
As a woman, I vow to build women up and not tear them down. I promise to be more like Hannah – faithful, trusting, and thankful, and less like Peninnah – hateful, arrogant, and hurtful. I’m sorry for the times I’ve been a Peninnah, I hope I can redeem myself and become a true woman of God.
Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy thoughts on this Biblical story and on a national crisis we as women face. Remember to pray for the war against women, as it truly is a worldwide problem; sex trafficking, abusive relationships, prostitution, etc. are all an attack from the enemy, and we must remember that it’s lies straight from the depths of hell and not a fault of our own.
