Resurrection in the Rust

“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” These were the final words of the book of Judges, summarizing the grim state of God’s chosen people, roughly two centuries after they had settled the Promised Land. Image by kordula vahle from Pixabay In that time, the Israelites were very “on again off again” in their relationship with God. Enemies would attack, they’d cry out to God, and God responded by raising up judges to deliver them. Soon, they backslid into apostasy, and the hopeless cycle began again. There was, however, a godly man named Elkanah who had two wives: Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had borne Elkanah many children, whereas Hannah she was said to be barren. In those days, childlessness was believed to be the result of God closing the woman’s womb, rather than a medical condition. Peninnah mercilessly tormented Hannah for being childless. But Elkanah loved Hannah. Whenever he made his annual pilgrimage to Shiloh, he gav