Women of the Bible: Hannah

Today we will be looking at the life of Hannah, another godly woman from the Bible. Though she does not have a whole book dedicated to her, like Esther or Ruth, Hannah is an amazing example of a woman of faith that is worthy of being recognized. She is married to a wonderful husband, but is barren. Her greatest desire is to have a child. Her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, was constantly tormenting her and ridiculing Hannah for her inability to bear a child. The scripture says that her rival “kept provoking her in order to irritate her.” Hannah took this woman’s cruelty to heart. As was tradition, Hannah and her husband would go every year to the Temple to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord. Out of the pain in her heart, Hannah went to the Lord and entrusted her dream of having a son to Him.
Hannah’s story is one that we can learn much from. First, look into your own hearts and ask yourself what your greatest dream or desire is. Is it to be popular? Have more friends? Be accepted into a good college? Have a family of your own someday? Whatever it is, like Hannah, we need to entrust those dreams to our faithful Creator. Give your greatest desire to Him and say those difficult words: “Thy will be done”. Why carry the unnecessary worry that somehow things might not go as we planned it? Instead, we can have peace in our hearts as we rest in God’s will. We can have confidence that God’s plan for our lives is best. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him…” (Romans 8:28) Like Hannah, we must entrust our desires to Him. This, I might add, is not a “one-time” surrender, but rather a daily sacrifice of our plan for God’s.
Back to Hannah…the text says that the “the Lord remembered her” and she gave birth to a son. Her response is remarkable. After receiving the son she had longed for, Hannah chose to give her child back to God. “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord”. (1 Sam. 1:27-28a) After her son was weaned, Hannah gave him to Eli (a priest) to have him serve in the Lord’s temple. This also, should be emulated in our own lives. What has God given us? What talents or abilities are we blessed with? Have we given them back to God and used them in a service of praise to him? Hannah gave her son to God as an act of praise for what he had done in her own life. Oswald Chambers stated in his book My Utmost for His Highest, that “Worship is giving God the best He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift.” How true!
However, an important thing to remember is that we are not entitled to get everything we ask from God. God’s plan is infinitely above our own, and many times He says no to our desires. Often times why we don’t get what we want or why God takes away people or other “stuff” from our lives is because He wants us to be satisfied with Him alone. As it says in Lamentations, we should be able to say honestly that, “The Lord is my portion.” Sometimes it takes everything being stripped away before we give ourselves fully to Him. “Be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”” (Hebrews 13:5b) We have the Lord…do we need anything else? Also, are we asking with the right motives? Is it for our own glory or praise or are we wanting to further his kingdom?

In summary:

• We should emulate Hannah by committing our desires and dreams to God.
  
• We should give back what the Lord has given us and use it to serve Him.
  
• Give ourselves fully to God, letting nothing get in the way, so we can experience His blessing.
  
• Live in such a way so as to further God’s kingdom and praise.

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