Read the Word:
1 Samuel 1:1-18
Meditate on the Word:
Hannah’s life was filled with grief. She had a husband, whom she was forced to share with another woman. Hannah was unable to have a child, while they seemed to come easily to the other wife. And, to top it off, the other wife was a raging mean girl. And every year, they would all travel as a “family” to worship God. Hannah must have certainly felt abandoned by God, but she was not.
We are not told how many times that Hannah had prayed for a son. We are told about this one instance, where she was witnessed by Eli, who would mistake her grief for drunkenness. After her explanation, Eli asks that the Lord will give her what she desires. And He does. Hannah’s son, Samuel will become a great prophet and the last judge. He will also anoint David as king, whose line extends to the Messiah.
What would have happened if Hannah had not so earnestly prayed to God? What if she had not shared her pain and grief with the Lord and with Eli? Or what if the Lord had given her a son before she made the promise that he would be dedicated to the Lord? While we do not know, we can deduce that things would have been really different in the history of Israel. But in sharing her pain and grief, Hannah allowed others to join her in prayer.
Pray the Word:
Share with our Lord any heartache that you are experiencing today.
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