There is no rock like our God

Over the past five or six weeks I have been speaking about the importance of standing on the rock of Jesus. My writing and articles have been filled with this theme.

So, here we are again. It has been a very challenging week. Yet, when studying the scriptures, God keeps reminding me that we will only be as strong as our foundation and that foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ.

This week, it has been the second chapter of 1 Samuel that has been at the center of my heart and thought process. Specifically, it has been 1 Samuel 2:2; “No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” In the second chapter of 1Samuel, we see Hannah, the mother of Samuel, praying. Here, she comes boldly before the throne of God in response to the Lord answering her prayers.

In the first chapter of 1 Samuel, we are introduced to Hannah. Hannah, is the wife of Elkanah. They would go up to the temple every year to sacrifice. Elkanah had another wife. Her name was Peninnah. She had several children. However, Hannah was not able to have children.

Every year, when they would come to sacrifice, Peninnah would make fun of Hannah and irritate her until Hannah no longer had an appetite. Hannah would become so upset that Peninnah would eat Hannah’s portion of meat.

When I was younger, and I would preach this passage, I would say that it wasn’t good for Peninnah to eat all that extra meat because the consumption of all that meat would go straight to her hips. I, of course, was making a joke. However, some found that I was being insensitive to women. It turns out on this theory, I was correct. Everyone in the first few chapters who was stealing portions of meat brought to the tabernacle became obese. I refer to this because of all the abuse Hannah went through by different people, until the Lord answered her prayers.

Her husband would try to cheer her up by saying, “You are upset just because you have no children? Aren’t I better than having 10 sons?” I am sure Elkanah never won the Man of the Year Award.

What makes this worse is this is how he handled this situation year, after year. Hophni and Phinehas were Eli’s sons and they were the priests at Shiloh. They were two bad men who were doing evil things, including stealing the meat of the people who were going up to sacrifice. Eli knew what they were doing but did nothing to stop them. All three of them became obese.

How do I know this? God spoke this through a Word of Prophecy given in 1 Samuel 2:29: “So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me — for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel!” This would be the first of two warnings Eli would be given.

Eli himself was another obstacle for Hannah. As she went to the Altar and poured her soul out to the Lord, her lips were moving but no sound was coming out. Eli yelled out a rebuke at her. “Woman, throw away your wine!” Hannah does not become offended at this. She doesn’t march off and leave the tabernacle. She responded, “I am not drunk like you suppose. I was pouring out my soul before the Lord.” Her prayer: “Lord give me a son and I will give him back to you to serve you all the days of his life.”

What a prayer that was, because that meant Hannah was giving her son to be raised in the corrupt house of Eli! I would have a judgmental disposition to Hannah’s decision, but God granted her request. Not only did God give Hannah Samuel, in the midst of the corruption, God gave Samuel favor. (1 Samuel 2:26) Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.

Hannah and Elkanah would also have three more sons and two daughters. This is an incredible story of faith. For you and I, let me testify to this. Christ is a sure foundation. The Rock on which I stand! Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. In the beginning, was the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

If you are going through a battle, I encourage you to put your trust in Jesus. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 There is no Rock Like our God! Have a great week!

Dave Truncone is the pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Van Buren. He is married to Heidi and they have two daughters, Hannah, and Abigail. They live in Van Buren.