Hannah, Full of Grace

I Samuel 1:2 “The name of one was Hannah.”

As we study the women of the Bible, we are drawn to I Samuel, and a woman named Hannah, who exemplifies many attributes of a wife and mother that we should try to follow and a woman who was greatly used by God.

We first find, that she was in a situation that we know nothing about and a position that I would never want to be in—-she was one of two wives of a man named Elkanah. Involved in this circumstance we learn she had an advantage—-her husband loved her best, and a disadvantage—-she had no children, “for the Lord had closed her womb.” I Samuel 1:5. But as we travel through the story, we see that the Lord, in His wisdom, was working out His great and marvelous plan to raise up a great prophet, and was using this humble woman to bring about His purpose. You see, Hannah was “greatly distressed and wept bitterly”, (I Samuel 1:10), because she had no children and to make matters worse her “rival would provoke her bitterly to irritate her.” I Samuel 1:6

But Hannah did what all of us should always do in our distress—she prayed and sought the Lord. Brought to her lowest point in life, she made a vow no loving mother could make under normal circumstances. ” 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 son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life…” I Sam 1:11. This is exactly according to God’s plan: for Hannah to be brought to such agony of soul that she might make such a extraordinary vow in order to raise up the prophet Samuel to lead the people of Israel.

After Samuel was born, Hannah was a dedicated mother, diligently teaching him about the Lord, nurturing and implanting in him the Scriptures, during those first three years of his life until he was weaned. Oh how she must have savored every moment with her beloved son. Then fulfilling her vow, she carried him to the temple and “dedicated him to the Lord.” I Samuel 1:28. But instead of weeping and crying over leaving Samuel, she sang a song of thanksgiving, (I Samuel 2:1-10) rejoicing and exalting the Lord, giving God all the glory . I know you will enjoy reading these verses for yourself. Later, Hannah was rewarded by the Lord for her faithfulness in carrying out her vow, for God graciously gave her five more children.

As a wife, Hannah exemplifies trustworthiness, for her husband safely trusted in her and honored the vow she had made, saying “Do what seems best to you…..only may the Lord confirm His word.” I Samuel 1:23. Let us prayerfully and carefully desire to follow Hannah’s example, that we too, may be used of the Lord for His honor and glory.

The Better Way: Being A Humble, Prayerful, Dedicated, Thankful, Faithful, Trustworthy Wife and Mother is the Better Way

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Gail Slawson

I am a 68 year old wife, mother and grandmother. After 48 years of marriage, my husband and I have been richly blessed with 4 wonderful children and their wonderful mates and 21 precious grandchildren, five of which are already with the Lord and 2 great-grandchildren. I have attended church all my life, but never saw myself a lost sinner in need of a Savior until I was 28 years old. It was then that the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin and I was brought to repentance and the Lord graciously saved me and I have praised Him ever since. Psalm 40:2-3a "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my going. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:" My daily prayer: " But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Galatians 6:14 www.bibleencouragement.org

Latest posts by Gail Slawson (see all)

• God’s Protective Hand - August 1, 2016
• Training Children - April 14, 2016
• Hannah, Full of Grace - March 16, 2016