Do you know the story of Hannah?
The book of I Samuel opens with a story of a woman named Hannah. The books before I Samuel are Judges and Ruth. This story of Hannah seems to signal a change in the history of Israel. They will move away from judges and into the era of the kings.
Before Saul becomes king in I Samuel 9, this book starts with the story of Hannah. It gives us some of her backstory. She is a wife to Elkanah. He has 2 wives, Hannah and Peninnah. We also know that Peninnah had children and Hannah did not. This made Hannah very sad.
We find that Hannah is very distressed that she has no children to the point of not eating and drinking. She goes to the temple and prays. In verse 11, she makes a vow to God that if he will give her a son, she will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.
She is praying so intently, the priest Eli thinks she is drunk. She tells him no she is not drunk, but praying. And then Eli says this,
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
I Samuel 1:17
My children are adopted. Before the adoption of our first son, there was much drama and at times it was scary to think some of the outcomes. While I was worrying about the outcome, God gave me this verse.
I prayed and I prayed and I claimed this verse as if Eli has said these words to me personally. That was 16 years ago.
I still pray for my children. When I do, I think of this verse. I pray that God would work in children and through them. I just want to be the instrument that shows them God’s love and the importance of living for him all your life.
Hannah was a mother that prayed. God answered her request. In I Samuel 1:19, it says, “the LORD remembered Hannah.”
We know Hannah’s son as Samuel. He would later anoint David king of Israel and he have a significant influence in Israel all his life. I’m sure Hannah prayed for him all her life.
Raising children is hard. We cannot do it alone. Hannah shows us a great example of God’s blessing to a mother’s prayer.
