History 3 - Barbara Lynn Seibel

March 16, 2025March 16, 2025

Elkanah Returns to Worship God

Two weeks ago, I started this series on 1 Samuel 1, purposefully studying the “minor” characters instead of the usual approach to this passage.

Several of you have thanked me for this focus, stating that you had never considered that these “minor” characters could reveal so much about the Lord’s work in our daily lives.

Today, again I want us to study the next group of verses from 1 Samuel 1.

And yes, as the title suggests, we will focus in again on the minor character of Elkanah and his faithfulness as he returns to worship God at Shiloh every year.

March 9, 2025March 8, 2025

How God Worked Through Eli

Have you ever misread a person’s behavior?

I certainly have.

Or perhaps you were the one whose behavior was misunderstood?

Yep, been on that side too.

How does God work through our misunderstandings?

Last week’s post considered how the Lord provided a supportive and Godly husband, Elkanah, in 1 Samuel 1, to Hannah long before He answered her petition to have a son.

Many who read the post commented that they had never studied Elkanah’s role before.

This is precisely why I focused on Elkanah last week.

Often, we forget that the supporting characters in a scripture passage are also useful in learning more about how God works in our lives.

Today, we return to 1 Samuel 1 to explore how God worked through Eli, another supporting character who, at first, misunderstood Hannah’s behavior.

March 2, 2025March 4, 2025

Seeing God at Work Through Elkanah

One of my seminary professors once stated that, anytime, scripture highlights a barren woman to take note because the Lord is about to do something significant.

The first chapter in 1 Samuel shares the unique turn of events that brought about the birth of the prophet and priest, Samuel, through resolving Hannah’s barrenness.

I can relate to Hannah in the early part of her story in the sense that I do not have any physical offspring.

But today, I want to focus not on God resolving Hannah’s barrenness, but on how we can see God at work through Elkanah, her husband, before that resolution occurs.

July 21, 2024July 20, 2024

Why Did God Choose Gideon?

I have fond memories of the wheat fields in Kansas.

Watching the swaying of the stalks in the wind is quite mesmerizing.

Although I spent time on my grandparent’s farm, I have never harvested wheat.

I recall a picture taken of me with my grandfather on his combine, but I never actually did any farming work.

Why am I talking about harvesting wheat?

It is what Gideon was doing when God called him to lead the Israelites.

What was it about Gideon that made him the right choice?

July 14, 2024July 13, 2024

Resolving Miscommunication in Worship

Have you ever misunderstood another person’s actions?

I know I have.

Conversely, has anyone ever misunderstood your actions?

Yep, I have experienced this too.

These situations can cause brokenness in our interpersonal relationships.

On a much larger scale, it can cause rifts between larger people groups and even nations.

Worse yet, miscommunication has the potential to destroy unity in worship.

Joshua 22 helps us understand the importance of communicating clearly with each other.

July 7, 2024July 7, 2024

Valuing Time to Pause

I gave myself this week off from my usual lengthier posting.

Why?

As a leader, it is important to model the value of pausing.

If I do not model the value of pausing, then I am not following God’s or Christ’s example.

What do I mean?

November 5, 2023November 4, 2023

Why Do People Worship God? |Exodus 4:31 | Part Two

I’m back!

In Why Do People Worship God? | Exodus 4:31 | Part One, we considered the primary and secondary definitions of both the word worship and God using Merriam-Webster.com.

We then reviewed how the stage was set in Genesis 15:12-14 and how the plot developed from Genesis 41:41-43 through Exodus 4:17 before the people in Exodus 4:31 responded to the news Moses and Aaron presented to them by worshipping God.

Today, we will continue our study of Exodus 4, seeking to gain insight into why people worship God.

October 15, 2023October 14, 2023

Why Do People Worship God? |Exodus 4:31 | Part One

Answering the question of why people worship God seems both simple and complex.

The primary definition of worship is to honor or show reverence for a divine being or supernatural power.

But this definition implies that there are multiple potential divine beings or supernatural powers to choose from.

Further, the secondary definition reveals that worship may be directed toward other humans or physical objects.

The primary definition of God, according to Merriam-Webster.com, is the supreme or ultimate reality who is perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness and the creator ruler of the universe.

Yet, secondary definitions mention god as a being or object that has more than natural attributes and powers, one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality, a person or thing of supreme value, or a powerful ruler.

How can Exodus 4:31 help us unravel this simple yet complex question of why people worship God?

October 8, 2023October 7, 2023

Honoring God Through Worship | Genesis 24: 26-27 and 48

Genesis 24 is more than a simple story of how Isaac and Rebekah become husband and wife.

In fact, a significant portion of the chapter centers on Abraham’s servant.

Back in Genesis 15:2, before Isaac was born, we learn the name of Abraham’s chief servant is Eliezer. Abraham expresses to God his concern that he remains childless. As long as this continued, Eliezer would inherit Abraham’s estate.

Yet, Abraham did not remain childless. He received a child through his wife Sarah in their old age.

Following the death of Sarah, Abraham requests Eliezer take a special assignment.

What can we learn from Abraham’s chief servant about honoring God through worship?

September 24, 2023September 23, 2023

Respecting God Through Worship | Genesis 22:5

What first leaps to mind when you think of worship?

Merriam-Webster.com defines worship first as offering reverence to a divine being or supernatural power.

We can express this reverence through a worship service where praises, hymns, thanksgiving, teachings, and prayers are offered to a divine being or supernatural power in a group setting.

We can also worship in smaller group settings or individually.

A secondary definition reminds us we can worship any person or object we choose to offer extravagant respect, admiration, or devotion toward.

Consider the following examples Merriam-Webster.com used to illustrate this secondary definition.

A celebrity is worshipped by his or her fans.
There are those who worship the dollar.

What does this have to do with respecting God through worship and Genesis 22:5?