The story of Hannah, Samuel, and Eli is told in the Old Testament, comprising 1 Samuel, chapters 1-2.

"That man came from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (Job 1:7 KJV)

"Tell me, where are my fourteen-thousand sheep and my six-thousand camels and my seven sons and three daughters?"

The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. (Job 42:12-13 NIV)

1 Samuel 3:14 (KJV):

And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV):

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

"Pascal's wager" refers to the syllogism put forward by the 17th century French philosopher Blaise Pascal. He argued that in terms of eternal salvation, it is better to bet that God does exist. If God does not, then the gambler loses nothing. If God does, then everything is gained.

Labels: angel falling softly, angel notes