Hannah

The month of May brings the joys of spring and the anticipation of summer, but we also set aside a day to celebrate our mothers. In the book of 1 Samuel, we meet a young mother who shapes the life of a young man who will shape the course of a nation and restore hope.

But when we first meet Hannah, she is not a mother, nor is she hopeful. In fact, she is barren, heartbroken, bitter and weeping (1 Sam. 1:15-16).

It begs the question, why is Hannah our primary focus at the start of an immense book about hope and redemption? But isn’t this where God often begins with us?

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:26-27, NIV).

It is a matter of biblical fact that God delights to begin a great work in the fertile ground of a broken heart; he takes a closed womb and a closed tomb and brings forth life that would change not only a nation but humanity! Hannah models what to do with our anguish: “I was pouring out my soul to the Lord…I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” (1 Sam. 1:15-16).

What a wise woman! When young Samuel will eventually sit on her lap, she will tell him: “There is no one holy like the Lord, there is no rock like our God, do not be proud or arrogant, God sees and knows all things and you my son will one day stand before Him! He brings life and He brings death. God humbles and exalts, he lifts up the poor and needy and gives them honour, the entire foundations of the earth are in the Lord’s hands! Be faithful to Him and He will guard your steps. If you oppose Him you will be shattered…but son…you can trust Him, He is good and will do good!” (1 Sam. 2:1-10).

Samuel learned at a young age to fear and trust God, which led him to discern God calling David to be a great king who would be forerunner of a greater King. The foundations for this were built through a young mother who had depended on God to do great things. That is the greatest gift a mother can give to her children and the world. -Pastor Ken Stoesz