Hannah- woman of virtue week 10, 2013

A lot of people talk about The God of Hannah. Perhaps I should say the Hannah of God is also worth talking about. “Why would you want to say that?” you may ask “is there anything special about the woman? I thought God is the one who did it.” It is very true God is the one who did give the child Samuel but consider many virtues in Hanna, virtues I have not seen in some godly women. From the sequence of introduction it is clear Hanna is the first wife and Peninnah the second. He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children 1Sam 1:2(ISV). The Hebrew words used here are also properly translated “the first was Hannah and the second Peninnah”. Often times the second wife is taken for the purpose of childbearing when the first is barren, as with Hagar for Sarai: so Abram's wife Sarai took her Egyptian servant, Hagar, and gave her as a wife to her husband Abram Gen 16:3(ISV). Sarai could not stand the insolence of the maid turned junior wife, and after complaining bitterly to Abram harshly treated Hagar to the extent the pregnant woman fled (Gen 16:6). Hannah bore all the insolence silently. No complaint to Elkanah, God, or the man of God. The most she would do was weep and not eat. This happened year after year. Whenever Hannah went to the LORD'S house, Peninnah would make her miserable, and Hannah would cry and not eat 1Sam 1:7(GW). Imagine being provoked in God’s own house every blessed year. O how many today would demand death or punishment for she who wickedly provokes them to fret. In Rachel’s day Rachel was very jealous of Leah for having children, and she said to Jacob, "I'll die if you don't give me some children!" Gen 30:1(CEV). Not Hannah; no threats or tantrums. No calls for fire either. Hannah’s barrenness was not as a result of sin on her part. Many a virgin has expressed disappointment with God when the fruit of the womb delayed. “God is this how you pay me back for keeping myself pure unto marriage?” some have complained; as though anyone kept herself. It is God who keeps all who stand. Hannah neither left God or charged Him foolishly, or cursed her day. Consider that the sinful excesses of Hophni and Phinehas were well known, but the sins of priests and men of God of her day did not make this radiant example of virtue excuse herself from following Jehovah and seek help from idols and Satan. Instead she makes a vow. "LORD…. If you give your maid servant a son, then I'll give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and a razor is never to touch his head." 1Sam 1:11(ISV). In it she places herself as a bondservant of God; her affliction drives her to God not away, from Him. Her deep need drove her to meet God’s need for a man in Israel. Is it so with you? Are you a Hannah of God?