Hannah Exemplary Mother of Faith Grace and Courage

Of Bible women, Hannah could be considered an ideal wife and mother. Her life wasn’t easy, but she was an exemplary woman of faith, grace, and courage who inspires us all.

She was married to Elkanah, a godly man, a priest. Elkanah greatly loved Hannah, who was barren. But, as was customary at that time, he had a second wife. Her name was Peninnah. She bore several children and continually vexed Hannah.

So, Hannah went up to the tabernacle of the Lord, where she fasted, prayed, and wept before the Lord. Then she made a vow to the Lord. If God gave her a male child, she would give him back to serve the Lord all the days of his life. (1 Sam 1:9-11)

In time, Hannah conceived and bore a son. She called him Samuel (asked of God). Then after she weaned him, she took Samuel, three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and went to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. (1 Sam 1:20, 24)

God had answered her prayer, and now Hannah was keeping her promise to give her dear son to God. Undoubtedly, that wasn’t easy. But, because of her faithfulness, God blessed her to bear five more children. And Samuel served the Lord all the days of his life. What a fantastic story.

Three Great Takeaways from Hannah’s Story

1. While Hannah wanted a son, God wanted a mouthpiece.

You see, 1 Samuel 3:1 says that there was no open vision, no widespread prophetic revelation in those days. God inspired Hannah to pray for the very thing He desired. While Hannah got the son she prayed for, God acquired the man he wanted to communicate His Word and do his will. Until Hannah prayed, God did not move, and the people were without prophetic revelation from God.

Know that God will place His desires in you. Psalm 37:4 says: “Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

2. When you pray, expect God to reveal things to you.

In In her song of thanksgiving and praise, Hannah received a revelation of the Messiah.  She was the first person in the Bible to use the term “God’s anointed” (1 Sam 2:10).

3. Dedicate your child to the Lord, pray, and trust God’s keeping power.

You would think taking your child to the church to live would be a good thing. In Samuel’s case, the temple environment was very corrupt.

Eli, the priest and Israel’s spiritual leader, had two sons that did not know, fear, or obey God.  They despised and corrupted the offerings. They had sex with some of the young women who assembled at the temple door. Indeed, they were evil and perverse. And Eli did nothing to discipline them.

But Hannah trusted God. She gave her son to God and had confidence God would take care of Samuel and accomplish His purpose through him.

Indeed, Samuel learned as a small child to hear God’s voice. He took care of the sanctuary and served those who came to worship. And Samuel served the Lord his entire life as a leader, prophet, judge-deliverer, and the anointer of Israel’s first kings. Wow! Consider the great potential of children in your house.

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Do you see how your prayers increase your child’s potential to do great things?