A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in a little thing is a great thing. ~J. Hudson Taylor Please continue reading the story of Hannah in the Old Testament ( 1 Samuel 1-2:19)
Here we see Hannah as she copes with her despair of being childless. Not only that, but we have previously seen that she has to live with another woman who mocks her and torments her because she has children and Hannah does not. We have witnessed Hannah’s complete soul-wrenching cry out to God to grant her the privilege of a son. Today,we are watching Hannah move from pain to hope.
It’s important to understand that Hannah knew exactly who she was talking to. She had complete faith that He was a God who answers prayers and a God who could reverse things. He was the Great I AM. She knew that as an Israelite, she was part of the chosen people whom God had selected to represent Him to the world through descendants too numerous to conceive. (see Genesis 12) Therefore, God would be glorified by allowing her to have a child – specifically a son. In light of who He was, Hannah felt confident making a vow to God if He would answer her prayer.
When we first read about Hannah’s vow to God, it may appear to be somewhat selfish and even an attempt to bargain with God. But I believe her motive was to be part of God’s plan to change the world. Perhaps this was a healing change of heart granted to her by God after she prayed and wept. Above all else, she wanted God’s will in her life. Why else would she make a vow that included giving her child to someone else to raise?
Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
By giving me a son,
I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.
1 Samuel 1:10
In this vow, Hannah is promising to allow her son to be raised as a Nazarite . In other words, a child raised by the priest in the temple trained to serve God.
Have you ever made a vow to God? Have you promised to be faithful to Him and love Him with all your heart? Our friend Hannah is teaching us that faithfulness to God and keeping our promises is a great calling that leads to healing and peace.
As we read on, we see that Hannah did indeed faithfully keep her promise.
After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 1:24-28
To summarize, Hannah focuses us on some important points of healing.
1. We can pray with confidence to the God who created the universe and has the power to reverse anything that has brought pain into our lives.
2. We must check our motives as we make our requests to God. Seeking God’s will is more important than seeking our will.
3. We must take our vows and promises to God seriously. He keeps His word with us. We honor and worship Him when we do the same.
Journaling Prompts 1. Do you truly believe God can reverse? Why or why not?
2. Read John 20:1-10. How might this be an example of a God who can reverse?
3. What vow or promise have you made to God that you need to keep? Describe it and renew that promise.
Here we see Hannah as she copes with her despair of being childless. Not only that, but we have previously seen that she has to live with another woman who mocks her and torments her because she has children and Hannah does not. We have witnessed Hannah’s complete soul-wrenching cry out to God to grant her the privilege of a son. Today,we are watching Hannah move from pain to hope.
It’s important to understand that Hannah knew exactly who she was talking to. She had complete faith that He was a God who answers prayers and a God who could reverse things. He was the Great I AM. She knew that as an Israelite, she was part of the chosen people whom God had selected to represent Him to the world through descendants too numerous to conceive. (see Genesis 12) Therefore, God would be glorified by allowing her to have a child – specifically a son. In light of who He was, Hannah felt confident making a vow to God if He would answer her prayer.
When we first read about Hannah’s vow to God, it may appear to be somewhat selfish and even an attempt to bargain with God. But I believe her motive was to be part of God’s plan to change the world. Perhaps this was a healing change of heart granted to her by God after she prayed and wept. Above all else, she wanted God’s will in her life. Why else would she make a vow that included giving her child to someone else to raise?
Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
By giving me a son,
I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.
1 Samuel 1:10
In this vow, Hannah is promising to allow her son to be raised as a Nazarite . In other words, a child raised by the priest in the temple trained to serve God.
Have you ever made a vow to God? Have you promised to be faithful to Him and love Him with all your heart? Our friend Hannah is teaching us that faithfulness to God and keeping our promises is a great calling that leads to healing and peace.
As we read on, we see that Hannah did indeed faithfully keep her promise.
After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 1:24-28
To summarize, Hannah focuses us on some important points of healing.
1. We can pray with confidence to the God who created the universe and has the power to reverse anything that has brought pain into our lives.
2. We must check our motives as we make our requests to God. Seeking God’s will is more important than seeking our will.
3. We must take our vows and promises to God seriously. He keeps His word with us. We honor and worship Him when we do the same.
Journaling Prompts 1. Do you truly believe God can reverse? Why or why not?
2. Read John 20:1-10. How might this be an example of a God who can reverse?
3. What vow or promise have you made to God that you need to keep? Describe it and renew that promise.