22ND NOVEMBER

WHEN GOD SEEMS SILENT

“Hannah’s rival provoked her bitterly, to irritate and embarrass her, because the LORD had left her childless.” (1 Samuel 1:6, AMP)

What could have been happening between the co-wives, Hannah and Peninnah? Let us indulge our imaginations again.
“It was time to go to Shiloh. The girls had packed their bags but the boys were out in the fields chasing the birds. Hannah called the girls to pack for the boys. With her arms interlocked in theirs, they willingly moved in unison to the rhythms of the words she had taught them the previous day: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” Suddenly, shouts of “Adah…Priscilla…where are these girls?” got the girls scampering out to
answer their mum, Peninnah. “Oh, Peninnah is back,” her heart sank as Hannah wondered why she always seemed to forget her resolve to mind her own business.

Peninnah barged into the room, glaring accusingly at her. “How many times will I warn you to leave my children alone, Mama goody goody? What are you doing in my son’s room? Go and have your own children and then you can do whatever you like with them. Witch!”

Tears flowed down Hannah’s cheeks as she walked out of the room. “Where is Jehovah, the mighty warrior who told the Israelites to hold their peace and He would fight for them? Where is the Jehovah El-Shaddai, who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk across on dry land? How long will Peninnah torment me and break me in pieces with words? Is the fruit of the womb not my heritage as a child of God? Jehovah El-Rachum, please have mercy on me. Elohim Azar, my helper, how I need you now!” She cried herself to sleep but soon woke with a song: “For I know that my Redeemer lives

Yes, God seemed silent but He was working on a child of destiny. “So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”” (1 Samuel 1:20). Samuel was a great prophet and the one who anointed the first king of Israel.

ACTION: Even if God currently seems silent towards you, be encouraged that every trial of a dedicated child of God has an expiry date.

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, because you do not fail your children. Make my life free from every reproach.