The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.
His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.
I Samuel 4:17-20 NIV
I'm not one that believes our happiness should be created at the expense of someone else. Another way of saying that is, "At least I am not that guy . . ."
Often we derive are sense of blessing or happiness in comparison to someone else. We are not thankful for our health until . . . "At least I don't have cancer like . . ."
I say all that in response to the story from today's reading because I could not help but think that was a bad day and by comparison it made my day seem great!
Consider the day Ichabod was born his father, grandfather, uncle, and mother either died or were killed. Now consider whatever you are going through this day.
Thinking of all that . . . remember this . . . even in the life of Ichabod, God was in control.
Take heart my friend, in the midst of the chaos and all the stuff of your life, God is in control. You need only trust Him to discover the purpose for life.
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