Lessons Learned From Hannah
With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I thought this would be a good time to share some of my journal entries about women I have learned much from. This is an account of what I have learned from Hannah.
For this child I prayed; and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of him; therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshiped the Lord there. And Hannah prayed, and said, my heart rejoices in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord; for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 1 Samuel 1:27, 28; 2:1,2
The early chapters of 1 Samuel are a wonderful example of faith and hope! It is an account of the life of a certain man, Elkanah, and his two wives, Hannah, and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Even though the Lord had shut up her womb, the Bible says Elkanah loved Hannah.
We don’t learn much about Peninnah in this passage, but we can certainly speculate what type of character she possessed. God has made us as women very emotional beings. The dynamic between women can be fascinating. I believe generally most women are very supportive of one another. But there can be times of jealousy between women. Occasionally some relationships are solely based on jealousy. That seems to be Peninnah’s relationship with Hannah. Imagine how Peninnah felt seeing the obvious love and devotion Elkanah had for Hannah. Satan really knows how to manipulate our emotions! Peninnah saw herself as the dutiful wife who provided heirs for Elkanah. She must have been envious and frustrated seeing Elkanah’s deep love for Hannah especially since Hannah had not fulfilled her duty of providing an heir for Elkanah.
Why is it that we allow Satan to make us feel so small and unworthy that we see everyone else as better…
Why is it that we allow Satan to make us feel so small and unworthy that we see everyone else as better…“The grass is always greener” so to speak. Unfortunately all too often when that happens, the one who feels unworthy tries everything in their power to belittle the other person. It is as though by trying to bring the other person down, they feel built up. Sadly it is generally just a perception or should I say a “misconception” on the part of the jealous person.
It is easy to imagine the interaction that took place between Elkanah’s two wives! Peninnah must have tormented Hannah unmercilessly as verse 6 of 1 Samuel 1 says about Hannah, “and her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret”. Year after year Elkanah took his family out of the city to travel to Shiloh to worship and give sacrifice to the Lord. And year after year as Hannah and Peninnah went along to the house of the Lord, Peninnah’s torments continued. The taunting eventually took its toll on Hannah, she wept openly and did not eat.
And so Elkanah, being a loving husband, set out to comfort Hannah. Given the emotional beings we women tend to be, me included… I wonder how Elkanah’s attempt to console Hannah was perceived. As a woman, I’m afraid I would be frustrated to hear Elkanah ask Hannah what she was crying about. And I would be really frustrated to have my husband ask me why I was so upset that I couldn’t even eat… and then to go on to ask, “After all, isn’t a loving husband better to you than 10 sons”? My reaction to that would most likely be, “you just don’t understand what I am going through! You can’t possibly feel the ache and void of my maternal heart!” We often just need someone to simply listen to our heart’s cry and hold us lovingly instead of trying to convince us we have nothing to be broken hearted over.
We aren’t told of Hannah‘s response, but we do know that she went into the tabernacle and began pouring the bitterness of her soul out to God in prayer – weeping uncontrollably. As she cried out to the Lord, I wonder if she was even aware of the priest’s presence? I believe Hannah was unloading her soul’s ache and yearning for a child to fulfill her duty as a wife and bring honor to Elkanah. How completely unworthy of Elkanah’s love she must have felt. I imagine all the hurtful torment she had endured from Peninnah came gushing out. I have been there before – where Satan has used circumstances and people to trample over my soul causing a river of tears and exhausting me to the point that the words would form in my heart, but my voice couldn’t utter them. That is where Hannah was, emotionally giving everything to God with her lips moving, but her voice not heard. She vowed a vow to the Lord, begging God to give her a son and vowing that she would give that son and his life over to the Lord. As she continued praying, the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk. As her lips moved silently Eli scolded her, telling her to get rid of her wine and stop getting drunk! Hannah explained to Eli that she is a woman of a sorrowful spirit, speaking to God out of her grief only, not because of wine or strong drink. Eli then told Hannah to “go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him.”
This is where we see that faith and hope are beginning to take shape in Hannah’s life. Hannah longed for a child, a male heir to present to Elkanah. I suspect that as the years passed Hannah’s longing only intensified. Being provoked and tormented by Peninnah must have deepened Hannah’s heartache. Knowing of Elkanah’s great love for Hannah was comforting to her, but I wonder if it also added to her despair. Once Hannah poured out of all her pain and suffering to God in prayer, (and vowing to God that if he would give her a son – she would give that child back to the Lord) she had complete faith! She left the temple and went her way with hope and a new countenance!
Have you ever had a need or even a want that you took to God in desperate prayer? I have! It is the kind of prayer that you put away all distractions and pour your heart out to the one who knows you best and loves you most. It is after those kinds of prayers that I most feel the Holy Spirit’s comfort! Complete peace and genuine hope covers me like a warm blanket on a cold day. I believe that is what Hannah must have felt! Her heart was at peace realizing that God knows her deepest desire and that He alone has the power to grant her request. Like Hannah, when I pray, I have genuine hope that God will answer my request… according to his will. Also, like Hannah, I am fully aware His answer may be, “no”. That is where faith steps in. I leave my time of prayer hoping that God will answer my request, but having a peace that I will accept His will no matter what His answer is. That is complete faith and trust knowing that my Heavenly Father only wants the best… His very best for me! His ways may not be my ways, but they are always, always the best ways!
Like Hannah, when I pray, I have genuine hope that God will answer my request… according to his will.
Trusting God that he would do what is best for her life, 1 Samuel 1:18 tells us… “So the woman (Hannah) went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.” She gave her trouble to the Lord and left her burden there! There is so much more to this account of Hannah’s life to explore, but I will save that for another day.
What I am grateful for most in this account:
~When tormented by Peninnah, no where do we read of any jealousy, disdain, or ill will from Hannah in return!
~When her husband lovingly pointed out to Hannah what she had to be thankful for, Hannah didn’t try to convince him of all she had to be miserable about…(Ouch! That hurts!)
~When she reached the point she couldn’t eat, she was weeping uncontrollably, and her soul was full of bitterness… Hannah went to the Lord in prayer! She poured everything out to God with such conviction that her voice could not even utter her petitions!
~When she prayed asking God for a son, she vowed that if God granted her request, that son would be given back to God for his entire life. While her request was a desperate desire of her heart’s desire… Hannah vowed that her desire, when fulfilled, would be used for God’s glory!
~When Hannah finished praying she left it all at Jesus’ feet… All of her perceived guilt and shame in her barrenness; all the pain provoked by Peninnah; and all the built-up hurt and bitterness after years of disappointment. The weight that was lifted changed Hannah’s perspective, and it even changed her very countenance!
~Once Hannah left it all at Jesus’ feet, she didn’t pick any of the guilt, shame, hurt, disappointment, or bitterness back up. Her worry, hurt, and shame was gone!
Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for giving insight and encouragement from the life of Hannah, a wife who longed to be a mother. Though some of the details aren’t given, I am grateful to glean wisdom from the life of Hannah! Remind me, Lord, of Hannah when others hurt me; when my heart and soul aches over unfulfilled desires; when I feel misunderstood by those closest to me who are just trying to console me; and especially when bitterness feels as though it is choking the life out of me! Help me to follow Hannah’s example of turning everything over to you and not picking the worry and bitterness back up. May my countenance always be a reflection of your love and grace! I love you, Lord!
The Sacrifice Of Praise 