Because I have asked for him (Story of Hannah)

1 Samuel 1: 20 - 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.”

This is a short story about Hannah, told from her perspective.  Please take the time to read her whole story in 1 Samuel 1 and 2.  

Many of you may have heard of the stories of my son, the prophet Samuel.  He was the last judge of Israel and was known for anointing the first 2 kings of Israel.  His story didn’t begin there.  It began with me, his mother, Hannah.  I was married to Elkanah an Ephraimite.  He was a good and devoted man.  But, as was the culture of the time, he had two wives.  Myself and another, Peninnah.  Peninnah was blessed with children and I was not.  I was barren.  This is a horrible position to be in during this time.  While we all know that the gift of bearing children comes from God, society never treats barren women well.  And such was my case as well.  Although my husband loved me and showed it, it didn’t stop me from being ridiculed. Peninnah would mock me and provoke me incessantly because the Lord had closed my womb.  She made my life miserable.  But I never said a word back to her.  I trusted that God would provide for me.  

Every year as a family, we would all go to the Lord’s house to make offerings.  Elkanah would give me a double portion of what he gave Peninah and her children to show that he loved me even though I was barren.  But even that did not stop my misery.  I was provoked to the point where all I did was cry.  I even stopped eating!  This worried my husband greatly.  He would ask me why I was so upset when he still loved me and treated me well despite me being barren.  But, he would never understand the pain that I was going through.  His love wasn’t enough to stop the pain that I was feeling.  The only one that could help me was God.  

After we finished with the feasts, as was part of the worship, I left my husband there and went to the tabernacle.  I felt so much sorrow and cried out to God in anguish.  In my desperation, I made a vow to God that if He remembered me and gave me a son, I would dedicate his life to the Lord.  This prayer and this vow were made in the depths of my heart.  With the grief that I was feeling, I couldn’t even use my own voice.  My lips were moving, but you couldn’t hear my cries to the Lord.  

The priest, Eli, saw me praying and immediately assumed that I was drunk because he couldn’t hear the words that I was praying.  How awful!  As if being mocked and ridiculed for being barren wasn’t enough, now even the priest has misunderstood me and thinks that I would come to the tabernacle drunk before my Lord.  

I pleaded with him to understand.  I wasn’t drunk on wine, just drowning in sorrow.  I explained my situation and how I had poured my heart out to God to help me.  I was just so heartbroken that all I could do was plead before God to hear my prayers.  Eli took pity on me.  He told me to go in peace and that God would grant my request.  After hearing this, I felt like a weight was lifted off of me.  I no longer felt sad and I resumed my normal life.  

Early the next morning, our family worshiped the Lord and then returned home.  God remembered my plea and soon after He blessed us with a son.  I named him Samuel because I asked the Lord for him.  As the time for the next yearly sacrifice came, Elkanah rounded us all up to go.  I told my husband that I wouldn’t be joining him.  I had made a vow to God that if He gave me a son, I would dedicate his life back to the Lord.  And I intended on keeping that promise.  I told Elkanah that I would stay with Samuel at home until he was weaned.  I would go with them back to worship the Lord once Samuel was old enough to stay there forever, as I had vowed to God.  My husband didn’t make me go back on my vow and told me to do what I thought was right before God.  

So, I stayed at home with my son until he was weaned.  Once he was ready to be on his own, I went to the house of the Lord with my offerings.  I brought with me three bulls, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine.  After the bull was sacrificed, I brought Samuel to Eli the priest.  I reminded him that I was the woman who stood here so long ago, praying to the Lord for a child.  I told him how God granted my request and that I was here to fulfill my vow.  I brought my son to be dedicated to the Lord.  And afterward, we all worshiped the Lord there together.  

I prayed again to the Lord with praises and rejoicing in my heart.  “My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD.  I smile at my enemies Because I rejoice in YOUR salvation.  No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides YOU, Nor is there any rock like our God.”  After our worship, Elkanah and the rest of our family went back home.  But my son, Samuel, remained with Eli to minister for the Lord.  He did so, even as a child.  When I came by for the yearly offering with my husband, I brought a little robe for my son.  Oh, how wonderful to see him grow and minister for my God.  And every year when we came by, Eli the priest would bless me and Elkanah to have more children because I dedicated Samuel back to the Lord.  And the Lord did remember me.  This barren woman who cried out in pain and sorrow for even one son was granted three more and two daughters.  

My story is one that many people may have gone through.  I suffered through society’s ridicule, mocking in my own home, and even scorn from a priest.  But, God was faithful, sovereign, and good.  At the right time, He remembered my prayers and granted me my petition.  Some may say making a vow with God out of desperation is not a good move, but I followed through and God rewarded me for it.  My firstborn son, Samuel, grew before the Lord and became the last judge of Israel.  He grew in favor before God and men.  He anointed and advised the kings of Israel.  And I was also given five more children after Samuel.  

My advice to you if you are going through suffering and pain, is to bring your requests before the feet of our Lord.  He is the only One who can provide you a way out.  And if you decided to do what I did and make a vow to God as part of your petition, make sure that you follow through.  Not only will you avoid the wrath of God on your family.  You will be rewarded for your faith in Him.  Please read my full story in 1 Samuel 1 and 2.