The Chrsitian Leader and the Family I

Ref: 1 Samuel 1:1-8

The book of 1Samuel opens with reference to a man by name Elkanah. Two things can be noted in the first chapter of the book regarding Elkanah and his family.

Rev. Benedict Eghan

1.    Elkanah had the spiritual health of the family at heart; and he indeed ensured that, he played his role very well in this regard. The tabernacle was located at Shiloh, the religious centre of the entire nation (Joshua 18:1). Three times in a year, all Israelites men were required to attend a religious festival held at the tabernacle (Deut. 16:16). This pilgrimage by Elkanah and his family was likely to be one of such festivals.  Elkanah ensured that he satisfied this requirement with his entire family.

Sometimes as Christian leaders, we may be tempted to ignore the role we are to play in the spiritual development of our family members. We assume they know it all. It is required that we consciously engage our families in the things of God such as morning devotions, bible studies and periodic “waiting” moments. The family that prays together stays together.

2.    Despite his efforts to build on the spirituality of the family, there existed a threat to the family’s happiness. The coming in of Peninnah was a great threat to the joy and love Ekanah shared with his wife Hannah. Jewish Rabbis state that Hannah was Elkanah’s first wife; and after they had been married for ten years without children, he took Peninnah as a second wife. The Mishnah ordains that when a couple has been married for ten years without bringing any children into the world, the husband is required to take a second (or additional) wife in order to fulfil the commandment to be fruitful and multiply. The Midrash also explains that Elkanah was compelled to marry Peninnah because of Hannah’s barrenness, which explains his preference for Hannah, his first wife.

Though Elkanah wanted children, he committed himself by bringing in Peninnah. The love, joy, peace, and harmony that had existed in the family was short-changed with the coming in of Peninnah. If only he had been a bit more patient, he would have forever saved the joy of the family.

Taking a clue from Elkanah’s case, it is important for us to avoid anything that could be a threat to the family’s joy and happiness. This is because; any such occurrence will have its effects on our ministry or our spiritual health.  These effects may include:

·         inconsistency in one’s decisions and proclamations as a result of an unstable mindset; and

·         inability to receive from the Lord – the peace and joy to go into the Lord’s presence may be missing out due to the troubles at hand.

In effect, in as much as we seek to work on the spirituality of the family, we must also ensure that our actions and inactions do not serve as vehicles for Satan’s oriented “pit-falls” in the family; for a destabilised family can lead to a destabilised ministry. 

By: Ps. Benedict Eghan