Yes, I am late to post something "grand" about Mother's Day. My deepest apologies! But late is better than never, right? And . . . anytime is a good time to praise and talk about motherhood! We all are either a current mother, a future mother, or married to a mother, or . . . you have a mother! If you are a mother, or are expecting to be one someday, keep reading to learn about a great woman of faith who gave up the most precious thing she owned and indirectly influenced a nation.
So I was thinking, "Who is a prime example of a mother in the Bible?" And since our church has been studying 1 Samuel, Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel came to mind.
Hannah means "God has favored me" or "grace." Seems fitting, right? Most of Hannah's life could have been spend in resentment and bitterness. She was married to Elkanah, a man from the hills, and he had another wife, Penninah. Now as if sharing a husband wasn't bad enough, Hannah could not have children of her own and Penninah relentlessly criticized her for it.
Let me say, there is nothing worse than having something/someone taken away from you, and then it being rubbed in your face. But Hannah did not retaliate–as far as we know. Even though Penninah had children, Elkanah loved Hannah the more. No doubt this was because Hannah was a graceful, dedicated, loving and Godly woman–unlike Penninah.
When the caravan of Elkanah and his family went to Shiloh to worship the Lord (as they did every year), Hannah was reminded once again of her lack of children (by Penninah's teasing), and went to the temple to pray. She was in despair and depressed. She wanted children with all her heart and lived with a woman who mocked her endlessly about it. I'm sure she felt guilt in her heart towards her husband for not being able to bear children, and that made her feel horrible. Year after year she prayed for the only thing she wanted: a son! But during this particular time to worship and sacrifice, Hannah was desperate. She poured her anguished soul out to God in prayer and even promised to "give back" the one thing she wanted. She promised that if God gave gave her a son, she would "lend" him to the Lord to serve in the temple all his days.
After Eli the priest overheard her request, he told her that it would be granted, and Hannah went back home with peace in her heart. Not long after, she did indeed have a son, and called him Samuel. She finally got what she yearned for all those years! God heard her cry and had favor upon her because of her selfless prayer.
While Hannah was raising Samuel, I'm sure that she was questioning her promise to God. She could have made up a plethora of excuses to keep Samuel at home: God wouldn't want me to be unhappy; Samuel is just so young to be serving God; I don't even know Eli the priest very well–can he be trusted with my child, my ONLY child? However, Hannah rejected any excuse and brought Samuel to the temple just after he was weaned. Imagine dropping off your two or three-year-old son into the care of a priest whom you do not even know! What's more is that she only saw him once a year– at the time when she came to worship and bring a newly sewn robe for little Samuel. What trust she had in God! And what a massive mound of faith she possessed!
Giving Samuel over to the Lord was probably the hardest thing Hannah ever had to do. But her promise-kept did not go unrewarded. The Lord blessed her with three more sons and two daughters. Plus, she was privileged to watch her oldest son grow in the admonition of the Lord and one day become a great prophet who would anoint David, the forefather of Jesus, as king. What Christian mother does not want to see her children grow to love the Lord and serve Him?
Hannah's story is one that should inspire us to not only be dedicated to our children and families, but to fully trusting the Lord with whatever He entrusts to us.
What are you holding onto that needs to be surrendered to God? This can be a desire, your children, or a possession. In my experience, when I give something over to God, He gives it back to me in a more wonderful, fulfilling way than I ever imagined.
What situation is on your heart and mind that you are not praying about? James says "You do not have, because you do not ask" (James 4:2). When is the last time you "poured your soul" out to God as Hannah did in her prayer? God knows your needs and desires, but He commands us to pray. It is an act of humility and dependence upon Him, a Sovereign God.
