Life really is a matter of choices, choices that bring consequences with those choices. They can be choices made by a wise person or choices made by a fool. They can be choices made in the heat of the moment in the flesh, or they can be choices made by the Holy Spirit, as you follow Him to control you.
In 1 Samuel we see choices being made. When you look at Elkanah, the husband of Hannah, who is going to give birth to Samuel, you see that he makes a choice. He makes a choice to go up to Jerusalem; he makes a choice to worship the Lord; he makes a choice to have his family there. You see his choices, and you see God's blessings upon that family.
But you see Peninnah, the second wife, the one that makes a choice to torment Hannah, Elkanah's other wife. You see a woman who is mean, a woman who takes advantage of the situation, and a woman that taunts another woman. She makes a choice. Do you think she's going to get away with that? Do you think there is a God in heaven that is going to hold us accountable? Are there consequences to our choices?
When we look at Hannah, we see that she was favored probably because of her demeanor. We see Hannah making a choice, making a choice to trust the Lord, making a choice to give the Lord her son, the son that the Lord gives her in answer to prayer and she does not withdraw from that commitment. She keeps her vow.
We see Eli the priest, who makes a choice, a choice not to discipline his sons. We see his sons who make a choice, a choice to defy God, a choice to have sexual relations with the women who come to the temple, the choice to take the fat of the sacrifices, a choice to walk against the Word of God, and yet you see the consequences. You see the consequences in Eli's sons' lives, and you see the consequence in Eli's life. You see a man who dies because God has brought judgment upon him, because he did not make the right choice.
Then you see Samuel stepping to the forefront, Samuel the final judge, the prophet. You see Samuel choosing to listen to God, Samuel choosing to believe God, Samuel choosing to stand before the people of God and to call them to accountability, not fearing the face of man, but fearing God.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, without You I have no idea where I am going. The road is dark and I'm uncertain where it will lead. I believe that You can give me the wisdom to make the right choice today. You are the illumination to my path and You are the beam of direction that I need. As I am faced with choices today, I ask for Your divine wisdom and I will follow where You lead. In Jesus' name, Amen.