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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: ACT (05/05/22)
All the stories in the Bible,have special messages for me. The story of Hannah's vow is one of them.( It is found in the book of First Samuel 1. 1:28 KJV) It starts with worship and ends in an act of sacrifice.The story is about a man named Elkanah, who took his family every year to Shilloh to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of Hosts. He had two wives, Hannah his first wife had no children and Peninnah, his second wife had many children. However, Elkanah loved Hannah and this made Peninnah jealous . In those days being barren was considered a curse. Peninnah used this to insult and ridicule poor Hannah.

One year Hannah was so miserable that she went into the temple and cried out to God. She poured out her sorrow to God and pleaded for a child. She vowed that if God would bless her with a son, she would dedicate him to serve God all the days of his life. God, in His mercy heard Hannah's prayer and blessed her with a son. She named him Samuel, saying, " Because I have asked him of the Lord," ( 1 Samuel.1:20).

She nourished and cherished the boy until he was weaned. The next year, when Elkanah went to worship God in Shiloh, she took the boy and went with him. There she presented Samuel to the High Priest Eli. She told the High Priest of her prayer to God for a child and her vow. God had graciously answered her prayer and acting in obedience of her vow she had dedicated the boy to God for life and had brought the child to him for that purpose. So far this is a beautiful story of answered prayer.

For me, the most important part of this story is Hannah's act of obedience in fulfilling her vow. As a mother, I try to put myself in her place and imagine her feelings. Yes, it is true that I would be immensely grateful to God for hearing my plea and blessing me with a boy, and for saving me from all the humiliation and heartache that I had suffered. At the same time I try to fathom her feelings as she handed over her child into the High Priest's custody for ever. As soon as she left the boy did she turn around and stuff her shawl into her mouth to stifle her cry of anguish? All the way back home did she experience the pain of her heart being squeezed, and the her eyes burning with unshed tears? Her sacrifice was genuine, voluntary, offered from a grateful heart. She did not regret it. Her pain was part of her sacrifice.

Almighty Jehovah accepted her sacrifice. He blessed her with many more children. He blessed Samuel also, and he became a great prophet. I realized that story had a message for me. It is easy to make a vow , but fulfilling it is an act of faith, an act of obedience, and an act of sacrifice. A perfect sacrifice hurts. A millionaire can give a few dollars for charity without feeling any hurt. But the sacrifice Jesus commended was that of the poor widow who cast her all, just two cents, into the offering box.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Philippa Geaney
05/13/22
Lovely. I agree wholeheartedly in that I have often wondered how on earth Hanna managed to make that sacrifice. It did result in great blessing for Hanna and all of Israel having Samuel, but that was one integrous woman.
Thank you for your entry.
Marlene MCPherson
05/13/22
great commentary!
Gloria Pierre Dean
05/14/22
A good description of Hannah's act. Well done~~~
Marlene Custer 
05/18/22
Thought provoking for sure!