The Son By Prayer
I Samuel 1Childhood is the most beautiful age in human's life, and you are the most happiest people because you are living in that age. Do you remember your birthday? Certainly, you remember it clearly, and you usually remind your mother to buy a gift for you every time your birthday is coming, don't you? You may know on what day your mother gave birth to you, but you probably never realize your parents' happiness on that day. Some of you were born after many years your parents were waiting and praying. Some of you might be born in the mist your parents' worry. Though have to worry or pray, parents always love you with all their hearts, take care, and bring you up. People usually say: Parents' labor likes the sky and the sea. This is very true. Have you ever thought that you are the happiness of your parents? If you are the good obeyed child, then you truly are the happiness and comfort for your parents. Otherwise, if you don't obey, don't be good, then you only make your parent worry and sad. The Bible wrote a story of a boy who was the happiness and pride for his whole family. It was a long time ago, there were a couple who were married for several years but hadn't had any children. The husband was named Elkanah and the wife was named Hannah. The couple were sad and wanted to have children badly, especially the wife, because to her surrounding people she was the unblessed woman. Some people thought that she was too wicked so she couldn't have any children; other people said she was punished by God. Mrs. Hannah was very miserable, but she only knew how to wait and pray God to give her a child. Both Mrs. Hannah and her husband worshipped God. Every year they came to the house of the Lord to give their sacrifices and prayers. That year was the same as the years before, Mrs. Hannah came to the house of the Lord and prayed with all her heart to ask God giving her a son, so that everyone around her wouldn't laugh at her. While praying, she promised that if God accepted her prayer then she would sacrifice that child for God so that he could serve Him. That day, Mrs. Hannah prayed for a very long time. She wept and prayed silently inside her mouth, so no one knew what she was saying. The priest Eli, a deacon in the house of the Lord, saw her and thought she was drunk; so she said non sense. He called her and said: "Lady, when would you stop drinking? Put away your wine from you!" He said that to tell her to go and find something to eat so she could be awake from drinking. Mrs. Hannah answered: "Sir, it's not that I was drunk, but it's because I've had sad thing so I came to pray God. I presented my confidence in front of Him; I am not a drinking woman. Since I have sad story in my heart, I've kept praying until now." Hearing that, the priest Eli felt for her and said: "Now, you go home with peace! May God accept your prayer." The words from the priest Eli made Mrs. Hannah felt comfort and peace. From that moment, she believed that God accepted her prayer. She felt happy; her face didn't show any sorrow any more. The next day, Mrs. Hannah followed her husband to go home. She remembered the priest's words and believed that God listened to her prayer. And that was correct, the Lord had seen through Mrs. Hannah's honest heart; therefore, He accepted her prayer. In that year, Mrs. Hannah was pregnant and gave birth to a son. The couple were happy and thankful to the Lord; they named their son Samuel, that meant "heard by God". Both of them knew that this was the special son who God gave to them. Samuel's parents loved him very much. To the couple, there was nothing more precious than that son. The couple were married for a long time but hadn't had any children, now they had a son so they were very happy and loved their son dearly. Even though they were happy and busy to take care their son, they didn't forget their promise to God. Not too long later, it had come to the time that they had to come to the house of the Lord yearly. Mr. Elkanah asked his wife to go with him, but she said she couldn't go because Samuel was still too young; she wanted to wait until the baby was weaned then she took him to the house of the Lord and sacrifice him to God as she had promised. Mr. Elkanah thought that was reasonable, so he agreed to come to the house of Lord alone. Mrs. Hannah stayed home with Samuel. Several years later, Samuel was weaned; he was probably about three years old; Mr. and Mrs. Hannah packed for Samuel some clothes and food, then the whole family went to the house of the Lord. At the house of the Lord, they offered sacrifices to God and stayed there for several days. On the day to come home, they came to see the priest Eli. Mrs. Hannah said: "Sir, I don't know if you still remember me; I am the woman who came here several years ago to pray God for a child. God granted my prayer, and we have had a son. At that time, I promised that if God gave me a son, I will sacrifice him to God so he can serve God all his life. Today, my son has grown up, I take him here for you; please take care of him and teach him the God's way; and let him be your student and help you in the house of the Lord." After hearing all that, the priest Eli remembered immediately the picture of the woman who wept and prayed several years ago, who he thought was drunk. Therefore, he agreed to let Samuel stay in the house of the Lord. Samuel's parents said good-bye to him and went back home. Samuel's parents were very courageous and faithful. Even though they loved their son dearly, they decided to keep their promise that they had made with God, that was to agree to give God the most precious thing that they love in the world. Do you love God so that you would give Him the most precious thing in your life? It may be a bicycle, notebook, toy, or money. It may be the thing you love most is candy, or new cloth… Also, your precious thing could be time or some shows on television. If right now God asks you to give Him your most precious thing, are you ready to give that? If someone needs to borrow your bicycle, or your pen, or notebook, or toy, etc…, would you like to let them borrow? If God would like you to give all your Sunday or to watch less television so you can come to church and study Bible, are you ready to do that? If God wants your parents to do God's work, to visit some sick people, or to tell people about God, and you have to stay home, take care and do housework, would you like to do that? God love us and sacrifice everything for us; we should be ready to sacrifice our most precious thing to Him. QUESTIONS:
To read and listen to other Bible stories, please click here. Written by Minh Nguyen
|