Read: 1 Samuel 2:1-10
The LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. (v. 3)
The pursuit of knowledge is admirable, necessary, and life-changing. We often think of those who are on a formal education journey as the ones who are most engaged in this—children in their pre-kindergarten through high school years, college students, skilled trades apprentices, or those seeking a graduate degree. Each one of these seasons is formative and ideally opens doors for future growth and opportunity.
Hannah could not have imagined receiving an education like this. In her time, as a woman, she would not even have learned the law the way that men did. However, it’s clear from 1 Samuel 1:9-20 that she knew who God was, and what he was about. This knowledge made her willing to trust him with her deepest longing and then make an extreme personal sacrifice in dedicating her hoped-for son to his service. Hannah knew that God saw her and trusted him completely.
For Christians, the level of knowledge we have about God does not depend on acquiring an academic degree. Rather, the pattern for us should be the heart of Hannah, one of faith and reliance, vulnerability and reverence, just like her ancestor Noah, who exercised faith in God (Heb. 11:7). With the Bible as our curriculum, the Father as our teacher, the Son as our advocate, and the Holy Spirit as our guide, the pursuit of godly knowledge is a life-long journey that will draw us closer to God and equip us to witness to our fellow learners along the way.
As you pray, thank God for the gift of lifelong learning in him.
Joy Petroelje serves as the Advancement Operations Manager for CURE International, a global nonprofit organization. Aside from work, she enjoys spending time with her family, coffee with friends, reading, and traveling local trails on foot.
