The Power of an Unlimited God.
There is something beautiful about being faced with my own limitations. While I hate seeing what I can't do, it forces me to look to the One who has no limits on his power.
Two Notes:
There is power in hearing the stories of others. Will you go to the comments section this week to share your story of seeing the limitless ability of God in your life?
This article covers the story of Samuel. I wrote a whole series of devotions from the book of 1 Samuel.
I hate facing my limitations.
Years ago, when Kia and I were first married, we received a medical bill from a recent appointment. Kia and I were still in college, living in student housing, and working part-time, low-paying jobs. The bill was a few hundred dollars at the most, but it felt overwhelming.
I felt limited.
I don’t remember praying about our lack of funds, but I remember seeing God provide. Unprompted, Kia’s grandmother sent us a check in the mail. There was no reason - birthday, Christmas, or graduation. It was just an act of kindness. And just as importantly, it was the amount we were short to pay the bill.
I witnessed a small but powerful reminder of the unlimited resources of God.
I am Limited.
The origin story of an important figure in the Old Testament is one of human limitations and God’s unlimited power. Samuel was a prophet who led the people of Israel as judge before the days of kings. Samuel also ushered in the era of monarchy in Israel by anointing the first two kings of Israel.
Yet this story was almost never told, because Samuel was a miracle from an unlimited God.
The limitations of man
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, longed for a child. She was one of two wives to Elkanah. He loved and preferred Hannah, but she gave him no children, which his other wife did. These dynamics caused discord in the home. [side note: having more than one wife always sounds like a nightmare. I’m not capable, and I can’t point to one biblical figure who was capable either. Obvious point, but we weren’t designed to leave and cleave to more than one partner.]
The family was devout, so they annually traveled to the Tabernacle (the precursor to the Temple) in Shiloh. When presenting a sacrifice, parts of the animal would be burned, but the rest kept for a special, holy meal. Elkanah gave more of the sacrifice to his other wife because she had children. Hannah’s portion was a preferable cut but limited.
And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the Lord had given her no children. -1 Samuel 1:5
Notice what is written. Elkanah loved Hannah. He favored her, but he was limited in his ability to provide for her. Adding insult to injury, Elkanah says to Hannah:
“Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” -1 Samuel 1:8
No. He was not better than ten sons…much less one.
I am limited.
Here is the hard lesson for me to swallow. I am not enough for my wife and children. I am not enough for my church (job). There are limitations to my ability to provide for both their needs and wants. Sometimes I don’t even know what their needs are. Other times I can see clearly, but I am powerless to help.
The truth is I am not enough for you.
Beyond this, someone else is not enough to meet my needs and wants. Hannah discovers this of Elkanah. She initially and understandably placed her hope in her husband to solve her problem. She found he was limited.
We do this more than we realize. We innately know we are incapable of meeting our needs and wants, so we turn to someone else. It might be a partner, friend, child, spiritual leader, or even a celebrity; surely they can meet my needs. I wish this were true.
Kia can never meet all my needs - physical, emotional, spiritual - so it isn’t fair for me to expect her to meet those needs in my life. My children won’t ever be able to meet my needs, yet if I try to live through their experiences, I will be disappointed. My pastor is human. He only has some much time for hundreds of people.
What is true of me is true of you. You are not enough for me.
The Power of an Unlimited God.
This is where the story begins to turn for Hannah. In the macro sense, Hannah knew God was unlimited in his ability to provide. She knew the story of God freeing the people from Egypt. She had heard about God parting the Red Sea. She knew God brought the people of Israel through the wilderness into the Promised Land. The unlimited power of God was part of her theology.
But did Hannah’s practical theology understand God’s resources were unlimited in her life?
Theology becomes practical.
Practical theology doesn’t manifest until we experience it, so, in desperation, Hannah went to the Tabernacle to pray. She didn’t know where else to turn, so she poured her heart out to God. Hannah asked him to provide a child and promised to return the child to God as a choice sacrifice (notice how she was willing to return what was given to her back to God).
While coming to grips with your limitations can be a sobering revelation, it also is a beautiful place to find yourself. At the same time that you come to the end of yourself, you become desperate for an answer. God has an answer, and he is not limited.
In the tent, Hannah met God. For the first time in her life, she encountered One who is not limited in their ability to provide for both her needs and wants. Interestingly, it was a person who confirmed this ability of God to provide.
Thinking Hannah was drunk, Eli the priest scolded Hannah for disrupting a place of prayer. When he realizes it is not alcohol but grief driving her, Eli blesses her.
“In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” -1 Samuel 1:17
While we are limited in our ability to provide, there is one thing I can unconditionally provide to others around me — words of faith and encouragement. I can bless you to believe in the God who provides for you. When Eli did this for Hannah, something clicked in Hannah’s heart. She left encouraged and full of faith that God was able to provide for her needs.
God will provide.
I’m sure you’ve guessed the outcome of this story. Hannah was given a son. She dedicated this son to God to live with Eli at the Tabernacle. The son grew up to lead the people of Israel as a prophet. His name was Samuel.
Like Hannah, your story turns when you look beyond yourself and others to supply your needs and wants. God is not limited in his ability to provide for you.
So let me be like Eli for you.
Go in peace! May God grant the request you have asked of him.
God is not limited.
What is your story of experiencing an unlimited God? Will you encourage someone else by sharing it in the comments below?
Writing Playlist
I don’t know if we have the same taste in music, but here are some songs to explore. All the links go to Spotify. While writing this post, this is some of what I was listening to:
Spirit - Gungor
0700 the Morning Comes - Jonathan Ogden
The Head to Heart Journey - Cageless Birds