Hannah’s Prayer Answered

Hannah was a lady that was married to a man named Elkanah.  This man had two wives, the other wife’s name was Peninnah, who had children but Hannah had none.  Sometimes we don’t understand why some people have to experience what they do, but you can be sure that God knows and is working for the good of His people.  

It must have been very hard on Hannah, seeing that childless women in the Old Testament were considered out casts and failures.  This would also be a social embarrassment to her husband and a reason for divorce, at the time, according to civil law.  But even though Elkanah was probably harassed and criticized because Hannah had no children, he still loved her and stayed with her.  It was important for women to have children because they were to care for their parents in their old age.  Only women who would truly love to have children, but cannot, could know what Hannah felt like if they experienced harassment and ridicule over not having any children and were made fun of because of it.

So, in her despair, the Word says this is what Hannah did, it is recorded in 1 Samuel 1:9-11, “So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’”

Hannah was so discouraged she became desperate, no matter how much she wanted, and tried, to have a child, nothing was working so she did the best thing she could have done; she took it to God in a desperate attempt to petition Him for a child.  This prayer wasn’t just an ordinary prayer, it came from a grief stricken, sorrowful spirit which was misunderstood by Eli the priest at the time.

It says this in verses 12-16, “And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, ‘How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!’

But Hannah answered and said, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.’”

Sometimes it seems that we have to get desperate before we see some of our prayers answered and this was one of those times.  Think about it, Hannah was so discouraged that she was physically ill and unable to eat.  Many times in these kinds of situations and circumstances which people face, people get angry with God and instead of running to Him, they run from Him only making things worse.  When people come to their senses and realize that God is their only answer and run to Him, then hope rises up in their heart and their prayers have a far better chance to be answered the way they would like them answered, as in the case of Hannah.

It says this in verses 17-21, “Then Eli answered and said, ‘Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.’

And she said, ‘Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.’ So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked for him from the Lord.’

Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow.”

Let me mention this; don’t be too quick to make vows in prayer, because if you make one, you had better be willing to keep it, like Hannah did.  God doesn’t back away from His promises and we better not either.  The vow that Hannah made may have been easy to say but it must have been very hard to follow through with, but she was determined to keep her vow and thank God she did.  Samuel would not have been the man of God he was if not for Hannah, his mother, and that goes for many other men and women also.

Remember, it is important to thank and praise the Lord for answering your prayers even before you see the answer and also after your prayer has been answered.  Something to think about!  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a great day!!