This is a story of overcoming – a story of prayer – a story
of perseverance – a story of obedience – a story of being a servant of
God. Hannah’s story shows how God
intervened on an ordinary woman’s behalf.
Hannah’s story is significant in the Bible because God used her for his
purpose.
The story begins in 1 Samuel 1:1. The chapter begins telling about a man,
Elkanah, with two wives: Peninnah who had children and Hannah who had
none. In Biblical times, and even in
some countries still today, it is considered a disgrace if a woman is unable to
bear children. The woman is looked down
upon, ridiculed by others, and even ashamed of herself. For what good is she if she is unable to bear
sons for her husband? Hannah felt as if
she was a failure. Each year Elkanah,
with his entire family, went to Shiloh to worship and make sacrifice to the
Lord as the custom decreed. Elkanah
would give a portion to his wives but by the custom Peninnah always received a
portion for herself and each of her children.
However, Elkanah always gave Hannah, the Bible says, a worthy portion
because he loved her.
In verse 6, the Bible tells us that Peninnah provoked Hannah
for to make her fret because the Lord had shut up her womb. I’m sure Peninnah was jealous because Elkanah
loved Hannah so much. This happened year
after year until Hannah was so miserable that she wouldn’t even eat. Elkanah didn’t understand why Hannah wept,
and even asked her in the 8th verse “Am not I better to thee than
ten sons?” The Bible doesn’t specify
how many years this went on but it does say “year after year”.
In this story Hannah
longs for a child, but maybe you are longing for God to move for you too. Have you been longing for something in your
Christian walk? Have you had a trial
that has seemed to last for years? How
long have you been down-heartened? How
long have you felt hopeless? Do you have
an illness that only God can heal? Maybe
you feel as if God isn’t hearing your prayers.
Maybe you are longing for him to move in a big way or send you a direct
message. Maybe your desire is to have a
closer walk with the Lord, to feel more of his spirit. Maybe you don’t know what you really want –
you just know that you feel an empty space in your heart that only God can
fill.
Put yourself in Hannah’s shoes as she knelt at the altar and
prayed fervently. In verse 11 Hannah
made a vow unto the Lord “…O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the
affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid,
but will give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the
Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” The Bible continues on to through verse 13 to
say that Hannah continued to weep and pray and the words she spoke only in
heart because her lips moved but no sound came out. In verse 14 the Bible says that the Priest,
Eli, watched her and thought she was drunk.
Hannah explained her plight to the Priest and Eli answered her in verse
17 “…Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou has
asked of him.” Hannah received her answer.
She immediately went out and ate.
She was no longer sad because God had sent her the answer. She believed!
The promise came to pass and Hannah bore a son. She called him Samuel, saying, Because I have
asked him of the Lord. Remember, Hannah
made a vow. Elkanah continued to go to
Shiloh to offer the yearly sacrifice but Hannah didn’t go with him. She knew that when she took Samuel she would
have to leave him there because she had promised the Lord. She did not take her vow lightly. Elkanah told her in verse 23 to stay with the
child until she weaned him.
Hannah kept Samuel with her until he was weaned, probably
about 3 years old, and then she took him to Shiloh for the yearly
sacrifice. She remembered her vow and
she had to let him go. Can you imagine
how hard it must have been for her?
However, she knew she must be obedient.
When she came to Eli, she told him in verse 26 “Oh my Lord, as thy soul
liveth, my Lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the
Lord.” In verse 27-28 Hannah said “For this child I
prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore
also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the
Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.”
Naturally you would think that Hannah would have felt great
anguish at leaving her child. However the Bible says in 1 Samuel 2:1 that
Hannah rejoiced. She praised God for
answering her prayers. At that time she
never knew if she would have more children.
The Bible goes on to say that Elkanah and Hannah visited
Samuel every year at the time of sacrifice.
Each year Hannah would take him a little robe that she had made. Eli blessed Elkanah and Hannah because of the
child they lent to the Lord asking the Lord to give them more children. Elkanah and Hannah went on to have 5 more
children; 3 sons and 2 daughters.
God’s purpose was fulfilled through Hannah. Samuel went on to be a great prophet to all
of Israel. She poured out her heart to
God, surrendering it all to him, and made a vow. When God answered her she paid her vow with
the sacrifice of her child. Have you
surrendered it all to the Lord? Do you
need freedom from your trial? Do you
want God to intervene in your life? Give
it all to him; all your worries, all your pain, all your struggles, everything. Believe he can make a difference and when he
does be obedient to his Word. Praise Him
in all things. You will receive peace as
Hannah did and blessings for your obedience.
~Blessings
Krista
