Hannah‘s Special ChildMany years had passed since the Israelites had left Egypt and entered thePromised Land. Some of them still worshipped God at the beautiful tentthat their ancestors had brought with them from the desert. One year, ayoung woman called Hannah decided to make a journey to the specialtent. Hannah was married, but she had no children, which made her verysad. When she arrived at God‘s tent, she prayed, "Dear God, if you willonly give me a son, I will give him back to you, to serve you here forever."
The next year, Hannah gave birth to a son. She called him "Samuel",
which means "asked from God". When Samuel was old enough, Hannahtook him to see God‘s beautiful tent. She was going to fulfil her promiseto give her son back to God. She gave the little boy to the priests wholooked after God‘s tent. They would now take care of him and teach himto serve God. Hannah visited Samuel every year, and as he grew biggershe would bring him new clothes that she had made for him.
One night, God called, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel thought it was Eli thepriest, but Eli said, "It wasn‘t me. Go back to bed."
Then God called again. "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel went to Eli again, butagain the priest said it wasn‘t him. When it happened a third time, Elirealized it was God calling, and he told Samuel that next time he shouldsay, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."
God called again, so Samuel replied, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."
Godgave Samuel a message for Eli and his family. And so Samuel beganto be a prophet while he was still a boy. - P-1
Zechariah and the AngelZechariah was a priest. He and his wife Elizabeth were sad because theyhad no children. For many years they had hoped and prayed for a child,
but now they were too old.
One day, Zechariah was working in the Temple in Jerusalem whensuddenly he saw an angel standing next to him! Zechariah wasfrightened, and he started to back away. Then the angel spoke.
"Don‘t be afraid. God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will havea son, and you must call him ‘John‘. He will be a great prophet, filled withGod‘s Spirit, and he will guide the people back to God."
Gen 17: 15~16.17 ~19.
18:9~15.>Zechariah couldn‘t believe it. "How can this happen?" he exclaimed.
"Elizabeth and I are far too old!"
"I am Gabriel," said the angel. "I stand in God‘s presence. Now, becauseyou didn‘t believe me, you won‘t be able to speak again until it happens."
With that, the angel disappeared. And so did Zechariah‘s voice.
The weeks went by, and then one day Elizabeth said to Zechariah, "We‘regoing to have a baby!" Zechariah‘s face glowed with happiness, but stillhe couldn‘t speak.
ShineradiateLater that year, the baby was born. It was a boy! Friends and relativesfrom all around came to celebrate. They knew this must be a very specialchild, and they asked what his name would be. Zechariah beckoned for44 TEL손짓하다a writing tablet. Everything went quiet and they all watched as he wrote,
"His name is John." And suddenly Zechariah could speak again! He sang asong of praise to God, and everyone laughed and danced for joy. - P-1
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