“Hannah’s Sacrifice“
[By Al Kendall]
It was a terrible period in Israel’s history described as a time when “…Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25, ESV). A nation that was on the brink of disaster no matter what measure one might consider, political, moral, military, or religious. It was during this bleak sinful time when we are introduced to a woman whose faith and sacrifice would affect Israel’s transition to a position of power and glory.
In 1 Samuel 1, we are introduced to a husband, Elkanah, who had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. The fact that Hannah was barren had great significance in their culture. Even in the times of the New Testament it was considered a reproach if a Jewish wife failed to have children. When Elizabeth in her advanced age became pregnant with John she proclaimed: “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people” (Luke 1:25, NKJV).
And to make things even more difficult for Hannah we learn that the other wife, described as her rival, ridiculed her in her despair.
“And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb” (1 Samuel 1:6, NKJV).
It is revealed that this provocation was continuous and so severe that when they made a yearly trip to the tabernacle of the Lord, which should have been a joyous occasion, Hannah was burdened with such a sense of failure that she wept and could not eat (1 Samuel 1:7). Even when her loving husband attempted to console her, we find that she remained distraught.
“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish” (1 Samuel 1:10, NKJV).
Notice in the verse that in her anguish and weeping she prays to God. This was a silent prayer and scripture says, “Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard” (1 Samuel 1:12).
When Eli, the priest, saw that Hannah moved her lips but was not using her voice, he accused her of being intoxicated. Can you imagine the indignation of being “of sorrowful spirit pouring out her soul before the Lord” (1:15), deep in prayer, and weeping before God and then needing to defend herself from the accusation of drunkenness by a priest who should have been sympathetic and understanding? Yet, she answered Eli with respect and he blessed her and asked the God of Israel to grant her petition (1:17).
Let me suggest that after this time of being miserable and feeling like a failure to her husband, Hannah takes decisive action in praying to God. Bringing our petitions to God is one of the most powerful actions one can take. Verse 11 tells us that she made a vow.
“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”” (1 Samuel 1:11, NKJV).
Now Hannah may have prayed to God for children at other times, but after this prayer is offered, notice how she changes.
“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” (1 Samuel 1:18, NKJV).
She is no longer sad and has resumed eating. Something must have been different in this prayer from the others she may have offered.
In this prayer, she is making a solemn promise to God. This prayer is not as much about her and her desire as it is about God and accomplishing His purpose. She vows, “give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life” (Vs. 11). Give me a child so that You will have another servant. Give me a child so that his life can be devoted and dedicated to You. That selflessness shows Hannah’s sacrificial attitude.
Notice the sequence of events. She in in despair, she prays, she receives the blessing (Vs. 17), and then gets up, eats, and goes away smiling. Hannah rejoices before God grants her prayer – a woman of great faith.
Now, in the process of time Hannah bears a child and called him Samuel (1:20). Now you that are mothers, can you remember the overflowing love and joy you had when you first held your child? Hannah has made a promise to give her child to the Lord, and she’s going to keep it. But do you think that’s going to be easy?
After Samuel was born, Hannah did not go up before the Lord to offer the yearly sacrifice.
“But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever”” (1 Samuel 1:22, NKJV).
Although the text does not say how old a child was when he was weaned, most say it would be between the ages of 2 and 4. How close do you think Hannah and Samuel became during those years? Do you think a day went by when Hannah didn’t think of it being one day closer to the time when she will have to make a trip to Shiloh and leave Samuel there forever? But she honored her vow to God.
“Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young” (1 Samuel 1:24, NKJV).
For a loving mother, how difficult and challenging is it to give your child to the service of God? We see mothers shedding tears when the school bus picks up their child for the first day of school although knowing they will be back home in just a few hours. What must it have been like for Hannah seeing her child only once a year when she brought him a little robe? Do you think some love went into every stitch of the sewing of that little robe?
“Moreover, his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice” (1 Samuel 2:19, NKJV).
And then to go back home leaving him there. It shows her loyalty and faithfulness to God.
“”So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there” (1 Samuel 1:28, NASB).
We learn from Hannah’s prayer that although her sacrifice was emotionally painful yet she rejoiced and exalted in the Lord for granting her prayer (2:1). We also learn that Hannah was later blessed by the Lord with three sons and two daughters (2:21). And Samuel “grew before the Lord” (2:21, NKJV) and became a great judge, priest and prophet in Israel serving God all the days of his life. Samuel’s work and faithfulness to God helped to move Israel from this dark period of the judges. And it was Hannah’s sacrifice that put this great prophet and messenger of God into His service.
Hannah’s focus was not on herself and her personal happiness when she made the vow but to God and His purposes. She was willing to sacrifice the close family day to day relationship with her first-born son, to dedicate him to God’s service for his entire life. Hannah was thinking bigger thoughts than her own discomfort, her own sadness.
The Lord requires Christians to sometimes endure sacrifice.
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12, NKJV).
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18, NKJV).
Hannah gave up Samuel willingly, rejoiced about it, and the Lord blessed her greatly. Let us be willing and glad to make sacrifices for the Lord and He will bless us richly!