Ordinary people, extraordinary God – God uses an ordinary bloke

1 Samuel 1:1-11, 19-28; 2:11, 19-21

We are a church full of ordinary people who worship an extraordinary God. We worship a God who is mightily at work in our lives.

1 Samuel starts with Elkanah. God planned to use an ordinary person to accomplish His purposes.

1. 1. Elkanah was an ordinary man – Elkanah was a relatively rich man. He had two wives. Hannah had not produced an heir and so he took another wife to secure his future.
   2. Elkanah was a worshipping man – Elkanah was a strong follower of the one true God. How strong a Christian are you?
   3. Elkanah was a loving man –
      1. Elkanah loved God.
      2. Elkanah loved his wives and family. He loved Hannah. Saying “I love you” means nothing unless it is backed up by loving actions. He cared when Hannah was distressed, but he didn’t get it right in verse 5-6.
   4. Elkanah was a generous man. Elkanah was the head of his family.
      1. Elkanah was generous to his wives and children.
      2. Elkanah was generous in his giving to God. Generous giving to God is a strong and vital principal throughout the Bible. We should delight in giving back to God.
      3. Elkanah invested in Samuel’s future. He dedicated Samuel to the Lord with a generous offering and continued to do so every year. He could have had no idea what a heritage Samuel would be to the nation of Israel and to the whole world.