HANNAH: SHE LET GO TO LET GOD
Hannah, the mother of Samuel is remembered for her remarkable prayer. For years, she had been praying to God for the fruit of the womb. Hannah did not receive her request in prayer until she arrived at the junction where God was waiting for her in prayers. She received her request in prayer when her motive and reason for her request came in alignment with the purpose of God.
“And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 1 Samuel 1:11”
Hannah’s prayer shows that all we have and receive is on loan from God. Hannah might have had excuses for being a possessive mother. But when God answered her prayer, she followed through on her promises to dedicate Samuel to God’s service.
She discovered that the greatest joy in having a child is to give the child fully and freely back to God. She entered motherhood prepared to do what all mother must eventually do, which is let go of their children.
When children are born, they are completely dependent upon their parents for all their basic necessities. This causes some parents to forget that these same children will grow towards dependence within the span of a few years. Being sensitive to the different stages of that healthy process will strengthen family relationships; resisting or denying that process will cause great pain. We must gradually let go of our children in other to allow them to become a mature, independent adult.
Strength and accomplishment:
- Mother of Samuel- Israel greatest judge
- Fervent in worship and effective in prayer
- Willing to follow through on even a costly commitment.
Weakness and mistakes:
- Struggle with her sense of self-worth because she had been unable to have a child.
Lessons from her life:
- God hears and answers prayer
- Our children are a gift from God
- God is concerned for the oppressed and afflicted
Key Verse: “And she said, oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am a woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD; for this child I prayed; and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of; therefore also I have left him to the LORD as long as he liveth he shall be let to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:26-28).
Her story is told in 1samuel 1-2.
