SAMUEL’S FATHER

Every Bible student knows about Samuel. He was the answer to his mother Hannah’s prayer and vow. She promised that if God would give her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord all of his life. He became a great man, considered the first of the prophets and the greatest figure since Moses (Jer 15:1).

We all know about Hannah, but who remembers her loving husband, the one who said to her, “Am I not more to you than ten sons?” Yes, a good husband is of great worth to his wife.

He led his family in worshiping God (I Sam 1:3).  He worshiped when, where and how God commanded, and he took his family with him. Jesus himself quoted the scripture: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve” (Mt 4:10). The father of Samuel obeyed this and set an example for the rest of his family.

Worship and sacrifice go hand in hand in serving God. Hophni and Phinehas were priests but they were corrupt men (I Sam 1). Samuel’s father could have said, “I will not worship as long as these worthless men are priests,” but he did not. He knew his offering was not to these men, but to the Lord God.

Samuel’s father’s name was Elkanah. He knew what a father ought to be. Let me urge each father to follow in his footsteps and be a blessing to God and to his family.

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