God’s Hand Among Uncertainty: A Glance Into the First 10 Chapters of 1 Samuel.
- Madison
- 16 hours ago
- 7 min read
Hopelessness and Desolation
The book of 1 Samuel opens with a story of faith lived out in the middle of insecurity. Hannah, a woman burdened by childlessness, embodied both sorrow and hope. “Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:10). Her pain was so visible that Eli, a priest, mistook her earnest prayer for drunkenness. But Hannah replied, “Oh no, sir! I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord” (1:15).
Her husband, Elkanah, supported her through sacrifice and devotion, traveling to the tabernacle to present offerings. He even gave Hannah a double portion, a gesture of kindness to help her feel whole. Anchored in faith, Hannah made a vow to dedicate her future child to the Lord. In time, they had a son, Samuel.
God saw that both Elkanah and Hannah were steadfast in their pursuit of a family that would represent the Lord and “remembered her plea” (1:19). God does not overlook our tears or prayers. He is present in the peaks and valleys. Every modest act of faith and humble surrender does not go unnoticed. Things may appear bleak, but new mercies await each morning, provided by God.
“Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance” (Hebrews 6:10-12).
Disorder and Strife
“For all the earth is the Lord’s, and He has set the world in order” (1 Samuel 2:8).
This verse answers the infamous question: If God is good, why is there so much evil?
God’s order has not failed; humanity has. He gave us free will, allowing us to either reflect His righteousness or reject it. The brokenness of the world is not evidence of His absence, but a sign of our distance from Him.
In 2:10, Hannah’s prayer reminds us, “No one will succeed by strength alone.” God, the “Lord of Heaven’s Armies” and our “Rock” (1:11, 2:2), fights battles that we simply cannot approach on our own. His sovereignty brings stability to our chaos, even when our world feels out of order.
Psalm 89:14: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; unfailing love and truth walk before You.”
God’s Favor vs. the Outcome of Sin
Eli’s story demonstrates the difference between being in God’s favor and being a product of human compromise.
“Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord or for their duties as priests” (1 Samuel 2:12). They exploited their position, serving themselves rather than God. Eli, though aware of their sin, failed to correct them and chose to honor his sons more than he honored the Lord (2:29).
In contrast, young Samuel “grew up in the presence of the Lord” (2:21). While Eli’s sons indulged in corruption, Samuel humbly served. (John 3:30: He must increase, but I must decrease). “The boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people” (2:26)—a similar description to the character of Jesus in Luke 2:52.
God called out to Samuel in the night, and Eli, though spiritually and physically weak, guided him wisely: be still, be alert, respond, and listen (3:9). God sent three messages, intending for His word to be solidified. God remained with Samuel and continued to present Himself, proving that He does not abandon us (1 Samuel 3:19, 21, and Hebrews 13:5).
God’s hand rested on Samuel, revealing that obedience leads to purpose. Eli’s story warns that misplaced loyalty leads to decay. The sons had become comfortable sinning against God, and without Jesus, they did not have an intercessor to clear their slate (2:25). Eli’s lineage would face poverty and loss, while God raised “a faithful priest who will serve [Him] and do what [He] desires” (2:35). This is a prophecy that points to Jesus Christ!
Being Used by God
At this time, the Israelites were at war with the Philistines. The Philistines were militarily superior and far more numerous, leaving the Israelites discouraged. This is the circumstance that Samuel was used by God for: to be a vessel. Samuel encouraged the people to seek spiritual victory over military triumph.
Often, God positions us in discouraging circumstances not to display our lack of power, but His sovereign might. Samuel’s leadership reminds us that being used by God requires faith in what cannot be seen, and courage to speak what we know to be true, even in defeat.
Misinterpreting God’s Power
During their battle with the Philistines, the Israelites tried to manipulate God’s presence. They decided that the Ark of the Covenant should be moved into battle, believing God could be controlled to work on their behalf. But God is not a token to be used; He is to be divinely worshiped.
Ironically, it was the Philistines, pagans who only heard of God, who had a deep reverence for Him. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before!” (4:7). They feared the same God that the Israelites closely knew but treated casually. The Philistines decided to unite and “fight like never before” (4:9). Imagine if Christians, those of us who know Jesus by blood, thought like this during spiritual battles.
Israel’s priests, Eli’s corrupt sons, were killed in battle as prophesied. The Ark was captured, and Eli himself died upon hearing the news. Even then, God’s purposes prevailed.
When the Philistines later tested whether their suffering was inflicted by God, they placed the Ark on a cart drawn by two cows separated from their calves. Defying their instincts, the cows went straight toward Israel’s land (6:7–12). God’s will was fulfilled through creatures that should not have understood it. This is a living testament that creation itself is drawn to intrinsically obey our Creator before anything else. God’s abilities are not limited to the capacity of our faith, or faithlessness.
False Worship
Initially, the Philistines returned to their land with the Ark of the Lord. They decided to place it next to their god, Dagon. This false god fell on its face and shattered before the Lord. What a perfect representation of what happens when humans partake in idolatry. “Every knee will bow” (Romans 14:11), either by surrendering willingly or by an inevitable demise.
After seven months of suffering (seven is symbolic for divine completion), the Philistines returned the Ark to Israel, realizing they could not escape God’s hand.
With the Ark back, Israel wondered how to live as the Lord’s people again. Samuel called Israel to repentance: “If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods… and obey Him alone” (7:3). The Israelites fasted, poured out water before the Lord, and turned their hearts back to Him. This worship and repentance led them to have confidence in the Lord and not the physical contraption that represented His presence.
God’s Sovereignty in Leadership
As Samuel aged, his sons proved unfit to lead. The people demanded a king “like all the other nations” (8:5). Though displeased, Samuel sought the Lord, who replied, “They have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king” (8:7).
God permitted their request as a lesson. Sometimes His greatest mercy is allowing us to experience the weight of our own choices. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that we can be led in one direction, but it is God who will guide our steps. Samuel warned that a king would take and demand, not give and serve. Yet God, in His sovereignty, would still weave redemption into their stubbornness.
Saul, described first by his appearance and generational wealth, but not by his relationship with the Lord at the time, would become king. He came from the smallest and least respected tribe. This is fitting in today’s time, since politics is still about being perceived more than it is about true character. However, God often chooses the unlikely to fulfill His purposes. Just as He worked through barren Hannah, He worked through the unfit to build His kingdom.
1 Samuel 10 refers to what was to happen after Samuel anointed Saul as king: the Spirit of the Lord would descend, Saul was to change into a different person, and God would transform Saul’s heart (10:6-9). After Saul’s public crowning, he returned home accompanied by “a group of men whose hearts God had touched” (10:26). God provided community, guidance, and spiritual empowerment. God provided everything Saul needed to lead well.
What does this all mean?
God was rejected, yet still gracious.
He granted the people’s desire, even after warning them.
He equipped the chosen man with spiritual transformation.
He surrounded him with godly support.
Will Saul make God-centered decisions, since he was gifted with guidance and advantages? TBD.
Will God be on standby to pick up the pieces for His beloved children? Absolutely. Always and forever!
Through every chapter of 1 Samuel so far, one theme persists: God’s hand is never absent, even when circumstances seem poor and proper leadership is lacking.
From Hannah’s disdain to Samuel’s calling, from the loss of the Ark to Israel’s repentance, from leadership failures to God’s patience and restoration, God was retrieving redemption from the ruins. His justice exposes sin, His mercy redeems it, and His sovereignty sustains it all.
God’s perfect hand continues to move faithfully among imperfect people.
Gratitude List:
Baby gaining more independence each day (bittersweet, but proud)
God giving us things to constantly be excited about in life
How much cozier a home gets once that Christmas decor comes out!
Cold fronts
Working through and finishing slower books to get to more exciting reads
Loads of laundry, because that only means we have more than enough clothing (:
Having a mini bestie to canvas book stores with
God's reassurance
Daily devotionals
Family visits
Having a baby who is not picky when trying new foods!
Big mouth, baby giggles (and those two teethies!)
References:
Myers, R., & Williams, A. B. (2020). She Reads Truth Bible. Holman Bible Publishers.
