Example of a Godly Mother
Hannah appears in the Bible during the last days of the judges of Israel when “there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Even though Elkanah, Hannah’s husband, was a godly man, he followed the common practice of polygamy. Hannah was barren, as well— the ultimate curse for a married woman.
Hannah, although she was married to Elkanah for a number of years, had not borne him any children, while Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, had many children. She constantly harassed Hannah for her barrenness.
Hannah illustrated how unpleasant circumstances can still produce a beautiful outcome. Hannah may have been without children but she was not without prayer. Grieved of heart, Hannah turned to the Lord. She went to the house of the Lord and vowed that if God would give her a son, she would devote him to the Lord all the days of his life. Eli, the priest, assured Hannah that her prayer had been heard, and she became pregnant and had a baby boy. She named her son Samuel, meaning “asked of the Lord.” After Samuel was weaned, Hannah fulfilled her promise and took her little son to the Lord’s house and left him in the hands of Eli, the priest.
Standing with her son before Eli, Hannah uttered a song of thanksgiving. While her earlier prayer came from sorrow, this prayer of praise came from joy and gratitude to God. The contents of her prayer form the basis of the “Magnificat” offered up by Mary, the mother of Jesus, to the same covenant-keeping God (Luke 1:46– 55).
Hannah’s sacrifice and the fulfillment of her promise to God was rewarded by God with the births of five more children. Samuel grew up to reflect his mother’s godliness and became a man of prayer and intercession for God’s people all his days.
Hannah’s earlier suffering compelled her to turn to God in prayer. Prayer allows burdens to fall from your own shoulders onto the strong shoulders of the Lord. Cast “all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
RESPOND
Lord, thank You for Hannah’s example of a mother after God’s own heart. I pray that my child will follow You for a lifetime. I want to start today to be a mom like Hannah— a mom who prays, instructs, and dedicates my children to You for Your purposes. Amen.
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REFLECT
Does my suffering compel me to turn to God in prayer?
REMEMBER
Turn to God in prayer when you are faced with disappointment and suffering.
