Reflections based on 1 Samuel 1:1–11.

We are going to spend some time in the coming weeks taking a closer look at a few biblical characters to see what we can learn about hope from them, starting with Hannah. 

Hannah was unable to conceive, something that carried such stigma in Old Testament times because it heaped social embarrassment on the family. But, not only that, she was daily taunted by her husband’s other wife. I have not suffered the terrible pain of infertility, but I have close friends who have, and I know the deep-seated anguish that it carries. Indeed, Proverbs 13:12 says ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick’, and I think that is a very accurate description of the pain and longing that is so keenly felt.

What can be hard to understand here is that it says ‘the Lord had closed her womb’. We are clearly being told that God has a purpose in this pain, although often when we read a passage like this all we can empathise with is the torment. Why would He do that? And why was Hannah so resolute in her actions?

This was a time when Israel had been taken over by the Philistines, and most of the people had turned their backs on God. Hannah’s husband was one of the few that still made the trip to sacrifice at the tabernacle. While there, Hannah would pour out her soul to God, learning to cling to Him through her sorrow and plead her cause to Him. She had no idea that the son God would provide would be the one to lead the Israelites to victory against the Philistines.

For prayer and reflection: Do you have any unfulfilled hopes and dreams that you are struggling with today? Take them to God again and ask Him to help you endure with patient faith as you wait.