1 Samuel 1 & 2

At the beginning of Samuel, we’re introduced to Elkanah and his two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah has children but Hannah is barren. In a culture where women’s worth was tied into how many children she produced for her husband, Hannah is most likely viewed as worthless. She internalizes this message and even though Elkanah tries to comfort her, his words could not defeat the message that she is worthless. Peninnah makes sure she feels worthless by continually taunting her.

I can’t help but feel sad for Hannah. You can see from the story that she wants children so badly and most likely doesn’t understand why she can’t. In her distress she cries out to God. I admire Hannah so much. I think if I were in her situation, I would be angry at God. I’d be hurt and frustrated, wondering what I did wrong that He would withhold my heart’s desire. But Hannah doesn’t seem bitter. In her prayer she opens her heart to God and desperately cries out to the only One who seems to care. She thinks that God has forgotten her, that maybe God thinks she’s worthless as well.   She makes a promise to God- one that I don’t know if I could make. She promises to give her beloved son to God.

God hears her desperate plea and out of His goodness and kindness He gives Hannah a son. I think this tells us something wonderful about our God. He loves to give gifts to His children. He sees her pain, has compassion on her, and wants to display His goodness by giving her a son. And because of this, I believe Hannah can’t help but feel thankful and follows through with her promise- she leaves her son in the care of God. She trusts that God will take care of Samuel and relinquishes her right to raise him.

Even though Samuel is her biological son, Hannah knows that he really belongs to God. And God uses Hannah’s sacrifice and honors it. He blesses Hannah with more children. He uses Samuel to do great things that we will read about later. Samuel is an important part of Israel’s history because of his strong faith in God. His great faith influences King Saul and King David. I can’t help but be amazed at how God used a mother’s sacrifice to further His plan for Israel. I can’t help but think that even my sacrifices and faithfulness to God may influence future generations.  My prayer is that we, like Hannah, will remember God’s goodness and faithfulness and in so doing, be willing to sacrifice anything for God so that His glory may be displayed to future generations.