The story of Hannah from the first book of Samuel in the Bible is the story of a woman whose life held little to envy. She was the second wife of her husband, whose first wife was the mother of both sons and daughters. Though Hannah’s husband loved her, she had no hope of a future when Peninnah, the first wife ridiculed her for being childless.

It was out of this need that Hannah, after fulfilling the annual obligations of worship and sacrifice at Shiloh, was prompted in her misery and need to take a direct and personal appeal to the God of Israel and pray for a son to be born to her. The God of the Hebrews was worshiped ritually, and faithfully, but apparently very seldom personally and passionately. So seldom was private, personal prayer displayed in Israel that Eli,the high priest, seeing Hannah in earnest prayer, mistook it for drunkenness in her. Hannah prayed, “ Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery, and remember me and not forget your servant, but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” Her lips moved, but she made no sound. (1Samuel1:11) Such a heartfelt prayer had not been witnessed by Eli, a window into the spiritual condition of the Hebrew people at that time. The priceless covenant relationship of the Hebrew people from the patriarchs and the Exodus had begun to sink into ritual: In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. (1 Samuel 3:1)

In such a time as this, one young woman took her need directly to the God she had heard of , the God who had brought Israel out of Egypt and had spoken to her people through Moses. Out of her desperation came a faith that dared to claim God’s covenant relationship as her own, and she was heard. After her prayer, Her face was no longer downcast. (1Samuel 1:18) Hannah did not get up from her prayer pregnant, but the most important transaction had taken place. In faith she had placer her anguish and grief in the only hands that could relieve her. Even Eli could see the truth in Hannah: Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him. ( 1Samuel 1:17) Hannah had no model for her prayer. The wonderful psalms of David had not yet been written. She relied entirely on her faith that God could and would hear her.

In this faith, Hannah is a prefigure of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Different as were the times in which they lived, yet both women trusted God and God found in each of them a faithful partner in His plan for salvation itself.

Love in Him,

Prue