Wed.’s Devo - Curse to Blessing

Read: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21, John 5:1-23, Ps. 105:37-45, Pr. 14:28-29 In a time when the priesthood was polluted with Eli’s sons, God sent a special baby to a barren woman, Hannah. Hannah means “favored”. Her son’s name was Samuel which means “hears from God”. Hannah gave her son to Eli to raise in the temple. God turned her curse of barrenness into a blessing and she had three more sons and two daughters. God did the same for Israel. It was cursed under the priesthood of Eli’s two sons, but blessed under Samuel. Eli’s two sons were Hophni and Phinehas. Their names mean “my fist” and “mouth of a serpent”. They ruled the people with fear and a raised fist and spoke lies like the serpent. If they were a reflection of Eli’s parenting, he redeemed himself with Samuel. Samuel would grow up to be one of Israel’s greatest leaders and prophets. In John, Jesus took a feeble man who had been handicapped of 38 years and made him totally restored. Jesus offered salvation to a world that had been dying in sin for about 3800 years. Jesus was not concerned or bound by the religious laws, he was only bound by the will of His Father. In Psalms we read of the wonderful faithfulness of God to His people. He gave them health, provision, protection, food, water, joy and gladness. He gave them the land of their enemies and they prospered from their enemies’ labor. Lord, how graciously kind you are to your children. Cause us to remember your goodness today. Thank you.