Relationship Matters

UV 1644/10000 Relationship Matters

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

I Samuel 2 v 3

Scripture speaks of only one way to distinguish oneself- the way of faith. Hannah distinguished herself by her faith that drew her closer to the Lord despite or even on account of her affliction of barrenness. Faith is a sign of humility before God. It is acknowledging that we cannot ever know everything and that God knows everything and He knows what is best for each of us. As we know the Lord we grow in our relationship with Him. Faith gives rise to love for God and for our fellow beings.
Peninah, the other wife of Elkanah was constantly provoking Hannah and insulting her over her barrenness. She was exceedingly proud that she had borne sons and daughters to Elkanah. It was probably due to Hannah’s inability to bear children in those days when neither surrogacy nor in vitro fertilisation was known that Elkanah decided to marry a second time despite being a God-fearing man. But the existence of two wives in the house produced much jealousy, strife and misery reducing Hannah often to an outpouring of sorrow in her tears. While Peninah which means ‘pearl’ demonstrated unpearl-like qualities, Hannah then decided not to keep her sorrow to herself but to pour out her soul to the Lord. Peninah spoke arrogantly and too soon for the Lord enlarged Hannah’s mouth over her.

God is neither blind, nor deaf to our woes and pleas. He is a God of knowledge. He manifests Himself according to our need. To Abraham, He manifested Himself as a God of blessing and providence. To Isaac, as the God of provision. To Jacob , as the God of encounter and blessing. To Joseph, as the God of favour, deliverance and exaltation. To Moses, as the God of justice and mighty deliverance. To Gideon, as the God of enablement and victory. To Rahab as the God of mercy and rescue. To Hannah, as the God of vindication and deliverance. Hannah rightly praises the Lord with an outpouring from her soul of praise. Through her personal experience, she realized that He is One who weighs our every attitude, word and action. The Lord constantly weighs our words, actions and reactions against those of others around us and His grace or favour would tilt towards manifesting Himself personally in correcting the balance or remedying the situation with justice. He is deeply involved and engaged in our greatest struggles and help us to emerge victorious and strengthened in faith or our personal relationship with Him. Faith is one word for a four word experience: personal relationship with God. The fear of God implies that we should always strive to stay on the right side of the Lord.
Prateep V Philip