A Real Mom

Message Transcription

Well, if you have your Bible, I invite you to turn over to First Samuel chapter one, where Greg read for us just a couple of minutes ago. You know, as I've been wrestling with the text and with the sermon this week, I, I've been wrestling with, how do you balance this? I've been I've been warned and kind of cautioned by several women in my life. Hey, this is not your opportunity to put mom on a pedestal, right? There's already enough pressure on mom. So let's not make mom the superhero of the story. But at the same time, this challenge of what does it mean to be a mom? And how do we wrestle with that? And what's the lesson that we can all learn as we look into the stories of Scripture? One of my favorite things about Scripture is the way that it presents these stories about real life and real moms, and that being a mom is not an easy job. In fact, it's often exhausting and we get tired and worn out by the mothering that women have done for us for years and years. And it's not just for our biological moms. If you're like me, you have a list of spiritual moms who've had a tremendous influence on your life. In fact, you may be sitting next to one of those spiritual moms or in the same direction. You may just want to make quick eye contact with them and just a wink or a smile or a pat on the shoulder.

Just thank you for for being that influence in our life. But I talk with moms. I'm married to a mom, and and moms can be exhausted, right? They can have exhausting lives. In fact, some of you moms may be sitting next to or near the reason that you're exhausted and don't make eye contact with them. They already know. Trust me, they already know. But this idea of of what's real and what really what's a real mom? In fact, I titled that sermon this week Real Mom. What's a real mom? Well, I think in the pages of Scripture, what you find is a real mom struggles with all kinds of things. A real mom doesn't live the perfect existence, the perfect life, never have a problem. In fact, much of the stories of moms we find in Scripture are those who are wrestling with the day to day. Who are wrestling with those longings to be something that they can't always be. The times when they have tried. And failed. In fact, that's one of the challenges of being a parent, is that weight of knowing you're not always going to get it right. And what might God have to say to me about that? I love the stories in Scripture of all kinds of experiences of mom. We have, uh, experiences like Sarah and Elizabeth, who longed for children their entire life, and it was much into their golden years before that prayer was answered. Then we have stories like some of you who've been in our Bible classes, hear the story of the the widow of Zarephath.

Of this woman who is who's down to her last bit of flour and oil and about to make a meal. In fact, she says, I'm I'm going home to make this last meal for me and my son, and then we're going to die. And they've just been overwhelmed with the life that they're in. We don't know all the challenges they're facing. We just know it's so overwhelming to her that her response to Elijah's request for a little help is, man, I'm at the end. I've got and given all that I can. When we look over to Hannah's story, let's listen again and I hope as we hear her story, that will be encouraged and maybe inspired a little bit, that that God does amazing things in the lives of, of women, of moms, of men who are willing to lean in and to encounter him. And we begin the story in in chapter one, the writer tells us about this guy Elkanah, who's got two wives, one named Hannah and one named Panaya. And we're only told one thing about them Panana has children and Hannah doesn't. And maybe that's a little hint at why he has two wives, right? In the ancient world, the main role of a woman in that culture in that time was to have children to be to offer her husband heirs, and especially a male heir.

And if you didn't, if you couldn't provide that, then you were looked down upon. You're felt sorry for, in fact, or maybe even worse, you were assumed that you were cursed, right? You had done something wrong, that God was punishing you because this was the primary expression of God's grace in your life, and you can't have a child. Well, then something's wrong with you. Now, I know it's hard to imagine that people might think that, but just for the sake of argument, can you imagine what it must be like? To want something so deeply. But but to to be held back from you. Every year Elkanah would go up to Shiloh, and that's where the Ark of the covenant was at this time. And he would offer worship and sacrifices on behalf of his family, and he would give a portion of that sacrifice back to Peninnah and to all of her family. All of her sons and daughters were told. But Diana, well, she was only entitled to one portion. Her portion? But Elkanah, he had he had incredible love for her, so he'd give her a double portion to try to bless her just a little bit. He could see the anguish and the pain in her life, but still this only emphasized her isolation and and the pain that she was going through. In fact, the situation was only made worse by Peninnah taunting her and seeing how what state she was in and just making fun of her, in fact, teasing her and hurting her so much so that all she could do was weep and not even eat.

I think some of us today can identify with Hannah's pain and struggle of wanting something so deeply, and it not coming and not knowing why. You know, we're not told why God has closed Hannah's womb. That's all we're told. Because God's closed her womb and and she's seen in a certain light by the people around her. In fact, they they see her as God forsaken. And that's how they treat her right with with some of some some of them with kid gloves. Like with Elkanah. I'm trying to bless you. I'm trying to make you forget your problems by giving you a double portion of this meat. But that doesn't really change her circumstance or or Peninnah. Who's just saying, well, sorry. Yeah, you're right. You are God forsaken and just teasing her relentlessly. Now we lose a little bit of the translation in the story because we don't speak Hebrew. At least most of us don't speak Hebrew. But if you look back at your textual notes, you'll see in there that Hannah's name means charming and Panini's name means fertile. And as the story goes, we're okay. That makes sense. But Hannah has all these children. She's fertile. She's living up to her name. Hannah is charming and Elkanah loves her. And it fits. But it's also important to know that the word that's describing Peninnah as the rival is that same word that's used often in describing relationships between nations enemies, rivals, between groups of people.

Right. So we evokes these stories of rivalry that we have in other places in Scripture with Sarah and Hagar, with Rachel and Leah. It turns out sometimes there are rivalries between moms. Now, again, moms, I need you to kind of just think about this for a minute, but can you imagine that there would be rivalries between two women about whose kids are better and whose life is better, and whose home is better, and whose family is better, and whose work is better, and who's more important right now, I know it's hard to imagine, but just for the sake of argument, go with me here. Right? We see all of this weight weighing down as. Samuel opens up. And al Qaeda gets a front row seat to this experience. Year after year, he witnesses and he watches this unfold. He's not quite sure what to do with it. In fact, we see that by the question that he asks her now husbands, we know this question, don't we? Right. Things aren't quite working out so well, and he can see it. And he's trying to bless and she's just not receiving the blessing. And so he asks Elkanah, or rather Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are so downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons? That's a classic husband move. What am I, chopped liver? I mean, babe, you got me.

What more could you want? Now, as the son of a lawyer, I've learned this from a very early age. Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to. Hannah and I are worth more to you than ten sons. And Hannah's answer is no. No you're not. Now, that's a tough one to swallow, isn't it? That's a tough one to swallow for Elkinah. It's a tough one often for us. But a little hint here. You ever wonder why that question wasn't, or rather, maybe turned into a statement? Hannah, don't you know that you're worth more to me than ten sons? That's not the question that's asked, right? How do you imagine that conversation might have changed a little bit if if al Qaeda might have have switched the subject and the predicate on that question? Aren't I worth more to you? Instead of saying, no, no, no, you're worth more to me than ten suns. But that's not what happens. In fact, his question only deepens the pain and the loneliness, not only for her, but now even some for him. Well, let's return for a second to the reason why Hannah is barren. We're told actually two times in verse five and six that that it's God's decision, God's power, that has determined that she's not having a child yet. And on one hand, it's this reminder that God's power is ultimate right, that God can and will move in the life of his people in certain ways. And we don't always get a chance to predict that.

We don't always understand it. But on the other hand, these statements also describe Hannah's state as viewed by someone else. You see, some will see Hannah's barrenness as a sign of God. Forsakenness. Right. Her husband loves her, though God has closed her womb. And Panina loves to taunt her because God has chosen to close her womb. Both of them see her as God forsaken, but as we'll see in the story. That's that's a little premature. What we'll learn in God's response to Hannah is going to prove something else. Pick up in verse nine. Let's keep reading. Once, when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now, Eli, the priest, was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord's house. In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly, and she made a vow, saying, Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servants misery, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but give her a son. Then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head. As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart and her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, how long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine. Not so, my lord, Hannah replied.

I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer. I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman. I have been praying here out of my great, great anguish and grief. You know, Hannah takes the initiative. One day, we're told to present herself to God, to take it to the Lord, to the Lord Almighty. The same phrase that that demonstrates Elkanah when he would go and present his sacrifice to the Lord Almighty. Hannah goes to the Lord Almighty, and trusting and believing that this same Lord will show grace and compassion, and consider those who are hurting, who feel alone and isolated, who have a dream and a longing in their heart, and it has yet to be fulfilled. Then what is she? What does she receive for that incredible act of trust, of belief, of faith? But to have the preacher say, hey, drunk. Oh, get out of here. Beat it. Take a walk. Hit the bricks! What are you doing here? And she says, I'm not. I'm not drunk. I'm not drunk. I'm deeply troubled, she says. Actually, a better translation of that is, is I'm stubborn. I have an obstinate spirit. And I'm crying out to God. I'm simply pouring out my soul. She says to the Lord. Eli answers, go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him. She said, May your servant find favor in your eyes.

Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord, and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkinah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, because I asked the Lord for him. Now there's so much in this story that we're not going to have time to cover these beautiful illustrations, or rather metaphors, between Hannah's journey in the journey of Israel. But this morning, I just want to draw you to a couple of things here as we come to a close that I think is is powerful examples of God's grace flowing. What happens when a servant is willing to to be open and allow God's grace to flow in and through them? The first thing we learn is Hannah expresses her needs to God. Three things, I think three expressions we we pick up from Hannah. Number one, she expresses her real needs to God. You know, Hannah's story is not the perfect life, lived perfectly and overflowing with perfection. Instead, there's a lot of brokenness. There's a lot of heartache. There's a lot of midst and struggle and hard things. And Hannah is willing to lay that before the Lord. She was willing to present her real self, her real needs, to God instead of pretending things are okay.

She presents herself to God. You know, not everyone understood her pain. Not her husband, certainly not anyone in her family, not even the preacher at church. Understood. But still, she was willing to present her real self, her real pain before God. People consider her forsaken. And they respond to her that way. But Hannah refuses to give in to those expectations. She was stubborn, had the stubborn spirit. She kept presenting her needs to God, trusting that his grace was available to her. You see, it turns out the best moms aren't perfect. They're stubborn. They're stubborn of spirit. That they continue to ask, they continue to struggle. They continue to present their needs to the father, trusting that the father hears and the fathers sees. It's actually one of the things I want us to wrestle with and invite the entire one of us, every one of us here. Are we presenting our real needs to God? Are we just showing up? The cleaned up version, the version that we think is okay? Are we are we acquiescing to the expectations that are placed around us? That even though people don't understand us, are we willing to express our real needs to God, or will we be like Hannah? The second expression is this trustful persistence that she just keeps pushing through. She trusted that God's grace was available to her, even in the midst of a life that felt God forsaken, that she didn't lose sight, and her willingness to keep going to that Lord Almighty, that elkanah's love, as important as it was, it was not enough for her.

She wanted more of God's grace, so she stubbornly, persistently kept asking for it. And God responds. Makes me think of that parable that maybe you remember the story of the persistent widow in Luke 18, that Jesus tells of this woman who comes to the judge over and over and over again, crying out, asking for justice week after week, month after month. Finally, the exasperated judge says, even though I don't fear God or care what people think yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice so that she won't eventually come and attack me. And the Lord said, Jesus said, listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice and quickly. However, the Son of Man comes when the Son of Man comes. Will he find faith on earth? That this widow keeps pursuing over and over and over again so that even this, this secular judge who has no fear of God says, okay, enough. How much more will the father who loves you, who desperately wants you? Will you keep asking? Do you remember why Jesus tells this parable? Look back at verse one, chapter 18. Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never give up.

What do you think he learned that? Right through experience. My Jesus understood to long for something but did not have it yet. But that didn't discourage him. It rather drove him to keep asking, to keep praying. Right. Even in this, even in the most holy moment when he felt God forsaken God, would you take this away from me? He continued to put express his real need before the father. Father sure will. Would you take this from me? But not my will. Your will be done. Jesus understood the reality that life doesn't always go the way that you want it to go. But he continued to express his needs and to express that stubborn spirit to keep asking. And he told example after example to his disciples, just like Hannah. Just like this poor widow. To always pray. To never give up. The third thing that the story stood out to me. The third expression that I hope is one that will emulate is Hannah reminds us of this truth that when grace comes and it will come, we don't know when, but it will come. Will we express gratitude? Will we express thanks? Will we allow grace to not just be for us, but will we see that grace given to us is intended for grace to move through us? She promises to dedicate her son to the Lord. And she does. And we're here today because of that kind of faithfulness, that kind of gratefulness, that those stories have been woven together to show us, to lead us to where we are today.

You see, when grace brings new life to us, we're invited to allow that new life to pour through us to someone else. Back to God, back to others. See the person who should have been most grateful in this story was Penina. Right. She had all these sons and daughters, and her response was to say, no, this is mine. And because you don't have your less than me instead of being the most gracious one. Right. So church, I think there's a number of things we could take, but I hope I hope that that you'll hear this. God's desire for us moms, one of the things we get most from you is your rugged determination, your stubborn spirit, your willingness to just tell the truth, to tell it like it is, and to keep asking God to keep praying. To keep searching. And then to allow that grace that God gives to you to flow into our lives through you. Well, church, I hope that we will respond in the same way we respond to that same rugged determination, that same willingness to ask for what we really need and then to allow God to work his grace through us. Father, we are thankful for the amazing moms that you have brought to us those biological and spiritual moms. Yeah. Thank you. In the family of God that you've created these lasting relationships that move us deeper than we thought we could ever go.

And I know some here today have some really complicated relationships with moms or with grandkids and grandmas and God. I pray for your healing mercies to just keep flowing through each and every one of us. God, we be conduits of grace and love in our church family and in our city. Yeah. Would you teach us to have that same rugged, determined, obstinate, stubborn spirit that Hannah had? They might be dissuaded by people who don't understand, even though sometimes closest to us who don't understand. But you keep us faithful. How would you help us to keep expressing our real needs? Not pretends? Not one day when I get things figured out. But God, as we are today, here and now. And father, as you pour your grace out into our lives, would you teach us to be conduits of it into the world, to not just hold your blessings to ourselves, but instead to turn and to bless others, to give back to you, to give back to your people, to give back to those in need. Father, thank you for our moms who have been this witness to us of this as imperfectly as they've been. God, we thank you for the ways that you continue to work in and through them to bless us. Oh, God, would you help us to be more like them as they seek to be more like your son Jesus? We pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.