When Dysfunctional Meets God

1 SAMUEL 1:1-2

Theme: God does not require perfect conditions or circumstances in order to have a powerful impact in a life, home, church, community or nation.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: ² And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. (1Sam. 1:1-2)

FAMILY LIFE IS BITTERSWEET.    

Family dynamics in the twenty-first century and the family dynamics that have existed since the dawn of creation have not changed much.

    1.  Family Can Be a Great Source of Pain.

There is no group of human beings that harbors more anxiety, frustration, anger, and other forms of emotional pain than the family unit.

    2.  Family Can Be a Great Source of Joy.

On the positive side, there are no relationships that can bring more joy, happiness, peace, and other positive emotions than this God-ordained institution. And as most of us know, these positive and negative emotions are often mingled together and are sometimes difficult to untangle. Ironically, even "love" and "hate" seem to run on the same relational track.

    3.  Family Life Can Be Turbulent.

Family dysfunction is not a new phenomenon. It permeates the history of the Old Testament, demonstrating the reality of sin in the world. The Scriptures are honest and open about these realities. There are no “cover-ups.” Bible authors do not make God's people look good by hiding the facts. As we'll see in this study, Samuels family is no exception. The story of his birth unfolds during a turbulent family unit, and as we look at this story, we'll understand why.

FAMILY LIFE CAN BE COMPLICATED.   

    1. Complicated by Two Wives.

Samuel’s father was Elkanah and his mother was Hannah (1 Sam. 1:1-2). But the biblical text is clear that all was not well in this Jewish household before Samuel was born. It was a situation of multiplied pain, sorrow, fear, pride, conflict, frustration, and insecurity.  

    2. Complicated by One Barren Wife.

Elkanah had two wives; and to complicate matters, “Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children” (1Sam. 1:2). The situation on the surface seem to be the last scenario God would involve Himself in…at least from our perspective, right? None of us would have considered this the ideal family situation for God to work or to raise up a champion for His will.

God often tolerated polygamy in the Old Testament, but it was not His perfect will. Wherever it existed, the normal problems in any monogamous marriage are not only doubled but multiplied many times. This is the kind of home Samuel would be born into. God’s plan is still one man and one woman for one life together.

Matthew 19:4-6, And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, [5] And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? [6] Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

1 Cor. 7:1-3, Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. [2] Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. [3] Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

God’s plan from the very beginning is still applicable and still works today.

Once again, God does not require perfect conditions or circumstances in order to have a powerful impact in a life, home, church, community or nation. He is not the God who conquers despite the pain; he can triumph through the pain. He still brings beauty out of ashes. His power is manifested in weakness. Our situation is not hopeless merely because we cannot see a reason to hope in our conditions and circumstances. Through our faith and faithfulness God can initiate movements, stir individuals, and raise up leaders to advance His most excellent will. Don’t loose hope because you are surrounding by pain, dysfunction, and complexity. Keep your eyes fixed on the Lord and trust Him to do God-sized things. He may desire to begin with you.