For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord. And he worshiped the Lord there. 1 Samuel 1:27-28
Hannah was barren. The Lord had closed her womb and her heart was full of sorrow, so much so that as she prayed in the tabernacle one day, the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk. But she told him that she had not been drinking, she was only pouring her heart out to God. Eli understood and told her to go in peace, the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to Him. Hannah had promised that if God would give her a son, she would give him back to God all the days of his life. God did grant her request and she gave birth to a son who she named Samuel, meaning “God has heard”, or “Requested of God.” When he was about 3 years old, Hannah took him to Eli the priest, so he could raise Samuel and teach him how to serve the Lord. She gave him back to God just like she said she would when she prayed for him. Samuel was a significant part of Israel’s history. He was a prophet, he anointed the first two kings of Israel, and he was considered by many as the greatest judge of Israel. God used his life to reveal His word to many people. The faithfulness of his mother put Samuel directly in the path God chose for him.
It could not have been easy for Hannah to give up her young son. But she had made a vow to God and she kept it. We know that, for whatever reason, God does not open every barren womb, and Hannah didn’t know if God would answer her prayer or not. She certainly didn’t know that her son would become a prophet, a judge, and a leader of Israel. But Hannah’s story does prove that God hears our prayers and He does give us the desires of our hearts if it aligns with His will.
Hannah portrays so many Godly characteristics in her struggle. She was loved and accepted by her husband, but her husband’s other wife, who had given him many sons and daughters, would torment her and ridicule her for being barren. Hannah never said anything back to her but instead took it to God. He gave her a son. After she left Samuel with Eli to train, when she and her husband would come to the tabernacle every year, Eli would pray that God would give Hannah more children to replace Samuel. Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, ‘May the Lord give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the Lord. 1 Samuel 2:20 NLT And He did. Hannah had 5 more children after Samuel!
How can we be mothers who trusts God with our children? We can trust God with our children if we trust Him with our own life. We can lead our children to serve God by serving Him in our own lives. We can lead our children to worship God when they see us worship God. We can grow our children up to be mighty men and women of God and people He can use to advance His kingdom. It all starts with us. When we build our lives around a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it will be evident in all areas of our lives, and all areas of our lives will reflect it. Hannah had struggles like we all do but she handled them with the grace of the Lord. She desperately poured out her heart and the Lord heard her prayers. We can pray like Hannah too, about all things, not just our children. That is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. Prayer changes lives and sets the example for them of how to deal with the trials of life. Take your battles to the Lord. Pour out your heart to Him and let your children see what happens when you pray, when God answers and when He doesn’t. That is the best thing of all to pass on.
There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides you! And there is no rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2
