BIBLE STUDY

Hannah - Woman of Faith

Read: 1 Samuel 1: 1- 2:11

Another woman of the Old Testament who refused to allow her difficult situation to separate her from God's love and thus showed herself a woman of courage was Hannah. Her name revealed her nature because the name Hannah means grace. She learned to rely upon God's grace in her life and to show grace to others.

Her main problem was the act that she was unable to bear children. Those of us who have experienced some difficulty in bearing a child will be able to enter into her pain in a way that others cannot. There seems to be a certain ring in our human situation in that those who desire to have children are unable to do so while others who do not desire them, get rid of them when they are conceived. One of the saddest situations I know is that of a dear friend who in her youth lived with a man for a few years and when she became pregnant with his child she had an abortion. Today she is married and she and her husband want desperately to have a family. However, it has been impossible for her to carry a child full term. She now experienced eight miscarriages. With each one her grief is intensified. These are not easy issues to work through. Despite all of the other issues in which women may find fulfillment, there is nothing that compares with motherhood in providing satisfaction of our potential.

Hannah's grief was increased by the treatment she received from her rival Peninnal. She faced the challenge of infertile women today, who are tempted to take a hard line against those who have abortions, not so much out of concern for the moral wrong but, rather out of a sense of spiteful frustration. They fell it is unfair that women should destroy their children when they cannot have them.

By God's grace Hannah was able to show this attitude. Although the Bible tells us that her rival would provoke her until she wept and could not eat, we do not read of any vengeful response on the part of Hannah. Instead she brought her problems to the Lord. How much sorrow and pain in relationships would be solved if only we would opt for this response. To choose not to retaliate when provoked would be costly. Did it not cost Jesus His life? However the result is God honoring peace and harmony.

Despite the fact that she did not have children, God was gracious to Hannah and she was loved by her husband, Elkanah. Her grief disturbed him and he wanted her to be happy. Like so many of us, however, Hannah was so obsessed by what she did not have that she failed to fully appreciate what she had. Has that been your experience? It has been mine.

We are constantly faced with situations where we must make a choice. We can choose to accept that God. has placed us in the situation where we find ourselves and make the most of it or we can instantly focus on what we would like our situation to be and thus become creatures of discontent. As a woman of courage I can choose to appreciate God's grace where I am.

Although Hannah might not have fully appreciated what she has, she was not content to simply complain or become bitter and resentful about what she did not have. She asked God for what she desired. She knew to turn to God as a first and not a last resort. James reminded Christians, what we need to remember. "You do not have, because you do not ask God". The way to obtain what we desire is by acknowledging our own inadequate resources. Hannah knew her own inadequacy and so she made her request to the Lord. We can bring to Him our unfulfilled longings and He will give us His best for us.

Although Hannah brought her requests to the Lord, that did not spare her from misunderstanding. She was honest before the Lord. She did not pretend to Him that all was well. She exposed to Him her true feelings. The Bible says, "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord". (1 Sam. 1:10). Then we feel something intensely it is difficult to act indifferently when we are focused on the subject. Our passion must be expressed.

One of my colleagues told me recently I am a passionate person. I feel things deeply, particularly those things that concern the faith. The problem with being passionate is that in discussing such subjects sometimes feelings overwhelm and my voice breaks and my eyes fill with tears. Such must have been the emotions of Hannah. Thus the priest, Eli believed from watching her that she must be drunk. The Bible says, "Hannah was praying in her heart and her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard." In those days prayers were most often offered in an audible voice. There was also much drunkenness associated with festivals and as the Scriptures teach, Hannah and Elkanah had gone up to Shiloh for the festival. With these facts it is not astonishing that Eli, the priest would think that Hannah might be drunk.

Those who are passionate and respond intensely to the Spirit of the Lord may sometimes find that we are misunderstood even by other Christians. We must be so careful that we do not limit the way in which we allow ourselves to respond to God so that the work of the Holy Spirit is hindered in our minds.

Those of us who are spiritual leaders must make it our business to find out what the source of spirituality is among our people. If what they do is motivated by the Spirit, while we ourselves may not understand or should their experience we must offer them the comfort and understanding of a God who does.

Such was the action of the man of God. As he listened to her story and saw her direction to God he offered his blessing. In verse 17, Eli says, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him". Although Eli did not completely comprehend her feelings, he respected her integrity and commended her to God's grace.

What lessons are there in Hannah's experience for us? Her story is a example of trusting in the grace of God. In grace God provided for all her needs even when she did not appreciate His gracious provision. His grace to her enabled her to be gracious to her wish and allow the Lord to deal with her situation rather than take vengeance into her own hands.

Knowing that the Lord was gracious gave Hannah the courage to bring honestly before Him the deepest needs and desires of her heart, even though it might mean risking misunderstanding.

The grace of God is just as vital and active in our situations today. The reason that nothing can separate us from the love of God is that this love is constantly being poured into our lives as God's grace. Grace provides for all of our needs. how did Paul put it? He spoke in Romans 5:17, "God's abundant provision of grace." Not only does He provide us with all we need, He also empowers us to be gracious, like Jesus. He cultivates in us the fruits of His grace, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-trust.

Our gracious God invites us to being to Him the deepest needs and desires of our hearts. Though nobody else may understand, He will respond. We need have no fear. We can open our hearts to His gracious arms of love.