| FACTS...
Name: Hannah (meaning "grace, mercy and prayer") |  |
BACKGROUND...
Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah could not conceive. Elkanah loved Hannah more than Peninnah, and continually tried to console her about her barrenness. But Peninnah, Hannah's rival, provoked Hannah until she could eat nothing.
One day, after a meal, Hannah went to the temple to pray and weep before the LORD. She made a vow saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look at your servantās misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but giver her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and I will never cut his hair." The priest, Eli, saw Hannah praying, she was moving her lips but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and rebuked her. After clearing up the misunderstanding, Hannah explained her plight to Eli. The priest answered, "Go in peace, and may God grant you what you have asked of him." She left, ate, and was no longer upset.
Shortly after, Elkanah and Hannah had sex and in the course of time Hannah gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, which sounds like heard of God, in Hebrew.
Hannah kept her promise to God. After Samuel was weaned, she took him to the house of the LORD and left him there to serve with Eli. Each year, Hannah made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.
The LORD was gracious to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters.
IN HANNAH'S OWN WORDS...
I knew the trek ahead would be a very difficult one. Samuel was now weaned, and it was time that I fulfill my promise to the God of Israel. About three years earlier, I prayed that I might conceive a child. Peninnah mocked and teased me because I had no children. After prayer, Sammy was born. In return for God's grace, I promised to give little Sammy to the service of the LORD. Those three years went by so quickly! He was still so little.
Once I got to the temple, a knot formed in the pit of my stomach. What was I thinking? I finally get a child, and I give him away? Would Eli know how to raise a little boy?
I'm not embarrassed to say that I broke into tears as Eli approached Elkanah and I. This was not the first time the priest had seen me crying! After giving Eli reams of instructions and precautions, I kissed our little guy. Elkannah took me by the hand and began to lead me homeward. Only my faith in God enabled me to leave Samuel at the temple in Shiloh. I understand the power of a God who could awaken my womb to conceive a baby boy after years of barrenness. I trusted that God's faithfulness would not end there. There is a happy end to my story because my faith was placed in an unfailing God. As it turns out, Samuel grew up to be a great leader, and anointed King David, the greatest king of Israel.
written by: Hannah Thompson