Concerning Hannah - A Barren Womb

Concerning Hannah

Psalm 113:9 "He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD."

1 Samuel 1:1-20

¹ There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite^[a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. ² He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

One can understand Elkanah’s frustration when he asked his wife Hannah, “Am I not better than ten sons?” He could not see Hannah’s woes, simply because his first wife Peninnah bore him children and that took care of his wholesome family concept. But Hannah was a different set of problems.

Try telling a 14 year old to enjoy “family time” playing board games at home on a weekend while his friends are all going for outdoor games!  Bet you, to him recognition by friends matters more.



Kids Playing



Its often said, a woman is difficult to gauge, and Elkanah’s failure to understand his wife Hannah  is no exception either.

She was struggling with more then her inability to bear a child. Being barren was seen as a scourge, a terrible predicament to endure in a closed society which  is  fiercely zealous and tradionally religious. Enduring the stress of provocation and distress was too much to handle (1 Samuel 1:16).

Because God has expressed His intent for a married woman to be with child.  I am drawn to the creation story in Genesis chapter One, whereby God after creating a particular subject  would conclude that event by saying, “and it was good.” There was no flaw in His plans and purposes.



New Arrival

Now when a woman experiences otherwise, it is not reflective that God was flawed in His creation, but something had to be done to undo this. Something else had occurred which has a direct implication on situations like this.

In this case Hannah’s rantings to her husband and her plea bargain, as it were, with God was that act of doing something to restore normalcy to what is not. The agony of her prayer in silence did not go unnoticed. Infact Eli the priest who was seated nearby thought she was drunk when he noticed her quivering mouth with no audible sounds. In 1 Samuel 1:14 Eli confronts her asking how long she would behave intoxicated.

This is the pressing-in the  prayer realm which drew the temple priest’s attention. Likewise we draw God’s attention when we press-in out of desperation and with a contrite spirit.

Barrenness today creates much problems and anxiety  in a marriage. Somehow a woman knows she was purpose built to bear children, and the absence of this results in untold miseries. The silent longings which cannot be replaced or substituted  is a rather wicked form of torture. The man she is married to is not spared from this agony either, simply because he becomes one flesh with her, Genesis 2:24.

Some would simply refuse to come to terms having given up hope trying all sort of available help medically or otherwise. Others have a false sense of acceptance being barren, living daily lives to the best of their abilities. Then there are those who put on a mask or find substitutes. Now this would constitute a form of escapism. But wait a minute, all these alternatives will not right the wrong and the issues will remain.  

When a root cause is not dealt with and uprooted, it creates multi facetted situations. Some of these will appear to have no links to the originals issue. You may say its psychosomatic, a situation whereby one appear to have flulike symptons, but  common cold is not the cause. (Diseases or sickness caused or aggravated by extreme or prolonged mental stress).

The symptons does not manifest the actual cause. In warfare the unseen enemy is the most dangerous, likewise  spiritually.

In my tent-making years, I have come across a number of couples in such predicaments, but one comes to mind rather distinctly. In a meeting amongst the body of believers, the wife publicly is critical of the husband and self. She would confess her preference of not wanting certain responsibilities or work requiring her to mingle with the masses. This is a form of escapism or running away without knowing from what. So much so she would initiate a job change if need be. At times the reverse happens when heartfelt compliments, a rather tear-jerker of a moment dampens the entire mood in the camp. There appear to be a deep knudging by both to overlay a deeper lack experienced with such untimely out of place, actions.

I sense bondage and it is apparent, the husband being entwined as one through the act of marriage, is subtly drawn into it. This is seen by his constant denial to a given responsibility, many a times wishing he could relinquish, offering  some kind of excuse or blame as to why he ended up in that role. He does not measure-up to a illusionary standard or measure.

All it takes is for the enemy to have a foothold to throw a spanner in the whole works.



Foetus in the womb



My take on this, is the actual cause of being childless, a departure from what is seen as the Godly norm, has a cause and effect on this couple. Inability to bear children is seen as a fault or handicap, best not talked about. What can be worse when in a church setting they are subject to hearing the word  of God to be fruitful and multiply.

Genesis 1:28 - God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Sweeping off the  prevalent  issue obscures our approach to other matters of daily living.

Matters are made worse  when subjects like this are rarely discussed openly in the Asian culture, and is deemed taboo, thus causing many couples to suffer in silence.

Hannah’s deep need was to have God’s approval. A childless woman  in her culture felt dishonored by God, because she thought He was denying her a part in fulfilling His promise of the Messiah.

The few other instances of barrenness and its dire effects in the history of mankind:

Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, married Rebekah. The Scriptures tell us in Genesis 25:21 that Isaac pleaded to the Lord for his wife who was barren. It was 20 years after their marriage that the Lord blessed Isaac and Rebekah with twin sons, Jacob and Esau. 

Isaac & Rebekah

The Scriptures do not tell us the name of Samson's mother, but she was childless until an angel appeared to the wife of Manoah promising a male child, a Nazarite, who would judge the children of Israel (Judges 13).



Samson



Jacob married sisters Rachel and Leah. Leah had six sons and a daughter, but the Lord had closed Rachel's womb. Rachel tried everything she could think of to have children. Once in anguish, she cried out to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die" (Genesis 30:1). Jacob in anger replied, "Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?" It wasn't until the Lord opened her womb that she bore Joseph and Benjamin. She died giving birth to Benjamin.



Rachel & Leah



King David married Michal (daughter of King Saul). The Bible tells us in 2 Samuel 6:23 that Michal never bore children.

Michal helps David escape

The Bible describes Elisabeth, the cousin of Mary who bore Jesus, as well-stricken in years and barren. She and her husband Zachariah had long already given up hope of ever bearing a child, when an angel appeared to Zachariah promising a son. That son was John the Baptist, the forerunner and greatest prophet who prepared the way for Jesus (See Luke 1 for the story.)

We know of Sarah trying to fix her problems by suggesting to Abraham to take Hagar  the maidservant for a wife. Look what that seemingly innocent act has produced. The Christians has the Ishmaelites (Moslems) as pretenders to the inheritance and this is the bone of contention on a global scale to this day.

Mary & Elisabeth



Sarai gives Hagar to Abram

Hannah was willing to give up her child (the one she so badly wants) to God’s service if only she could know that He hadn’t rejected her. The only way she purposed to know that God had not rejected her was to have the ability to be with child or reverse the state of bareness.

Fancy that, making a bargain with God to give her child while she was still barren. This kind of belief or faith is a trigger mechanism.  Her prayer was finally answered, and her heart overflowed with joy (2:1-10).

God summons Eli ‘s attention in answering the prayer. Upon realizing  her condition, he responds by saying, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel will grant you what you have prayed of Him”.



Hannah dedicating Samuel to the Lord's service

What we learn from this godly woman is, although human relationships are important, our critical need is to know that we have the approval and acceptance of God. He alone can satisfy our deepest needs. Like Hannah, the many couples in such predicament need to know of God’s approval and acceptance.

There is a need to sever and renounce the deep inner hurts and ancestral past. Thereafter, receive by faith His approval and acceptance. Seek counsel in your local church - NOW

For this to happen you need to adopt the pivotal act of pressing-in, like Hannah did until He takes notice.

“WHEN WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT BUT GOD,

WE’LL FIND THAT GOD ALONE IS ENOUGH”.



This could be you



Other links:http://www.tentmaker.org/inspirational/inspirational2.html

 ³ Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. ⁴ Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. ⁵ But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. ⁶ Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. ⁷ This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. ⁸ Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

 ⁹ Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. ¹⁰ In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. ¹¹ And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

 ¹² As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk ¹⁴ and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

 ¹⁵ “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. ¹⁶ Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

 ¹⁷ Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

 ¹⁸ She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

 ¹⁹ Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. ²⁰ So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,^[b] saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”