“Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.” (1 Samuel 1:22 NIV)
Hannah, to me, is one of the unsung heroes of the Bible. She was married to Elkanah, who had two wives. Peninnah was his other wife, who had many children. Hannah, on the other hand had none, “the Lord had closed her womb” (1 Samuel 1:5 NIV). Peninnah lorded it over Hannah’s head that she had children and Hannah could not. For years, Hannah lived in misery:
“This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.” (1 Samuel 1:7 NIV)
Hannah never gave up. She didn’t lose faith in God, even though she was unable to have children. Instead, she persevered and pleaded her case before God:
“In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (1 Samuel 1:10-11 NIV)
Hannah gave her greatest desire to God.
God granted Hannah’s request. She named her son Samuel “Because I asked the Lord for him” (1 Samuel 1:20 NIV). And when he was weaned, she left him with Eli at the temple, living up to her promise to the Lord. God answered Hannah’s prayer, and she honored her commitment. She would see her firstborn once a year when they went to the temple to worship. She would lovingly make him a new outfit to take with her. Hannah’s prayer is a beautiful tribute to what the Lord did for her, take a moment and read it here. After she gave birth to Samuel, she had three more sons and two daughters. God blessed her abundantly for her obedience.
Giving up what we most desire to God is a difficult thing, but the rewards are beyond measure. When we release to God whatever our heart’s desires are, He does miraculous things. Samuel has 2 books named after him in the Old Testament. He records the story of David and Goliath as well as many others. Samuel’s name has not been forgotten in thousands of years because Hannah gave to the Lord what she wanted most.
Hannah trusted God with her heart’s desire and He blessed her abundantly. He’ll do the same for you if you will trust Him.
Question of the Day:
What are you willing to give up for God?
Further Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21 NIV, John 5:1-23 NIV, Psalm 105:37-45 NIV, Proverbs 14:28-29 NIV
