Therefore He says “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6

Yesterday we learned about Hannah and her childbirth woes. Today, we will turn our focus on her husband’s second wife, Peninnah, who taunted Hannah year after year over her lack of children. Not much is said about her in 1 Samuel, expect that she was Elkannah’s second wife and a prideful person who used other people’s predicament against them.

If the story of Hannah and Peninnah could be summed up in one Bible verse, it will be our verse for today : God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. While Hannah humbly sought the face of God fervently, Peninnah went around making fun of her. We learn in subsequent verses that while God shone His countenance on Hannah and she had seven children. Peninnah on the other hand became forlorn.

A forlorn person is a pitiful, sad and lonely person. If the scriptures used this word “forlorn” to describe Peninnah, then it means that in her old age she was indeed abandoned and lonely, although at one point she was surrounded by her children. The Bible does not go into detail on what brought her into this state but there are a few things I believe we can all learn.

We must never use anyone’s weakness against them. Also, we court the resistance of God if we become proud. Pride is what caused Satan to fall, and all who are proud are children of the devil.

For those of us are blessed enough to be in advantageous positions in our careers, have a family name that can open doors, live a healthy and comfortable life, my prayer today is that the good Lord will give us self control and dominion over pride so we don’t look down on others. In Jesus name, Amen.