.Hannah.

You can find her story here:  1 Samuel 1 – 2:11.

She is “ A Portrait of Feminine Grace” – John MacArthur.

Her name meant “Grace”.

This lady faced one of the biggest trails a woman could face back then with HUGE amounts of grace and dignity.

.She.Was.Barren.

It was like walking around with a red stamp on your forehead saying “Inadequate”.  Do you ever feel this way? 

In many ways Hannah’s story mirrored that of Sarah – both barren until late in their years, married to bigamist husbands because of their barrenness.  They often wept bitterly AND cried out to God, because of this fact.  [how many times do we stop at the weeping??]

And yet, despite her inadequacies, God used her to birth the last of the judges and  a GREAT figure in Israel's history.  Although she is not in the direct lineage of Christ.

On top of many similarities to Sarah, she also foreshadowed Mary, the mother of Christ in her prayer - dedicating her son to God.   Check it out!

Hannah’s Prayer

¹ Then Hannah prayed and said:

   “My heart rejoices in the LORD;
   in the LORD my horn^[a] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
   for I delight in your deliverance.

² “There is no one holy like the LORD;
   there is no one besides you;
   there is no Rock like our God.

³ “Do not keep talking so proudly
   or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
   and by him deeds are weighed.

⁴ “The bows of the warriors are broken,
   but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
⁵ Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
   but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
   but she who has had many sons pines away.

⁶ “The LORD brings death and makes alive;
   he brings down to the grave and raises up.
⁷ The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
   he humbles and he exalts.
⁸ He raises the poor from the dust
   and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
   and has them inherit a throne of honor.

   “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;
   on them he has set the world.
⁹ He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
   but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

   “It is not by strength that one prevails;
¹⁰ those who oppose the LORD will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
   the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

   “He will give strength to his king
   and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

And she gave her son to God’s work at the age of 3. Although, she visited him often, which helped him to build the character he would need to be the last great judge of Israel (although she didn’t know this at the time, she was just helping him build Godly characters).

She had a great love for her husband, despite him having another wire,  a holy ambition… and so much more.

This woman, who’s story only takes up a chapter and a half of scripture, was a MIGHTY tool that God used to change a nation.

Are you willing to be used by God in this way?  To change the nation He has you change – a school, a business office, a home, a city, or maybe an actual nation.

If so, make sure your eyes are on Him and in His Word, not on the “goal” of being used, and He will use you for HIS glory.

Blessings,

H

PS- I finally posted it, proud of me??