FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:17-22

1 Samuel 4:17-22 says, “So the messenger answered and said, ‘Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.’ Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’s wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, ‘Do not fear, for you have borne a son.’ But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, ‘The glory has departed from Israel!’ because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, ‘The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.’” 1 Samuel 4:19 in the NET Bible says, “His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phineas, was pregnant and close to giving birth. When she heard that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she doubled over and gave birth. But her labor pains were too much for her.” She died! What family was this? This was the family of Eli. When judgment came in Israel on Eli, it was too much even for his son’s wife and she gave birth and immediately died. Again we see the God of too much visiting through judgment and eventually setting the nation free. God had already told Samuel what He was going to do, and God’s judgment came, and it elevated Samuel as a prophet in Israel! Do we believe that God’s judgment can be too much for wicked leaders? Is it not time to invite God to clean house in the church and nation? Psalm 2 says we need to kiss the Son or perish in judgment. Let’s rise up to be the church in the last days that serves a God Who is too much for our enemies!