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From Barren to Blessing: Hannah’s Faith and Resilience
Hannah’s story is about her unwavering faith in God, being bullied, barren, and then having a child. Hannah (11th century BCE) was the mother of the prophet Samuel. According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Hannah means favor and grace. Hannah is of Hebrew origin. After years of being barren, she prayed to God for a son and was favored by God with a son hence the meaning of her name.
Hannah’s husband was Elkanah, of Ramathaim Zophim of the mountains of Ephraim. Elkanah had another wife, Peninnah. Peninnah had children whereas God had closed Hannah’s womb. Compare Hannah and Peninnah with Rachel and Leah. How are their situations the same and different?
Every year, Elkanah and his family would go to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. He would give portions to Peninnah and her children but double portions to Hannah, whom he loved. Poor Hannah, not only did she not have children, but she was made miserable by not having children which left her crying and not eating. Having children is a blessing from God. Can you imagine how Hannah felt year after year with no children? Most women would have become bitter and angry at God but not Hannah she just prayed to God.
Her husband must have felt sadness because 1 Samuel 1:8, reads, “Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do…
