There was a certain woman in the Old Testament that caught my attention. As I read about her life, I was astounded on how hard was the road of life she was traveling; she was married to a husband with two wives; her husband’s other wife had children while she was barren; she was afflicted by the other woman because of her situation. It was a horrible experience that might have been. I am talking about Hannah, the wife of Elkanah and the mother of one of the greatest prophet in the Old Testament, Samuel.
In the book of 1 Samuel (chapter 1), we could see the struggle of Hannah. She had three problems:
· She was persecuted by the other woman.
· She had no children, thus people surrounding her thought that she had a great sin.
· The Lord has shut up her womb, giving her no chance to ever bear a child.
The first problem might be easier on her part; even if she had no children to claim as her own, Elkanah, her husband, loved her more than Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife. Note that in chapter 1 verse 8, Elkanah showed his affection to Hannah, comforting her while she was crying because of the persecution that Peninnah was provoking. The second problem may be heavier but manageable because Elkanah was always there to support her. But the third problem has an impossible solution because the Lord had shut up her womb; and it was even mentioned twice (verse 5 & 6). It is as though there is no chance of having a child for it was the Lord that shut up her womb.
Distinguishing Needs from Wants
If you were in the shoes of Hannah, what will you do? You might probably curse your situation and live a life of persecution and unfruitfulness. Or you might have a colder attitude, covering your barrenness with pride that you are favoured more than the others. In short, you might desert all kinds of hope of bearing a child. What might your solution be? You might:
· adopt a child. Though such an idea might be favorable to soothe the pain, in the long run it might cause a bigger problem, especially if your adopted child has a shady history.
· remain barren for the rest of your life. It may be good but in the long run, you might have final regrets.
· imagine having a child. This might be awkward but sometimes sanity begins to decline because of problems and persecution. Instead of dealing on what is now, one begins to withdraw from reality and goes to the world of insanity.
These are all negative solutions. You might laugh it out but what is the significance of Hannah’s barrenness with our lives?
Hannah represents Christians. As Hannah was devoted to her God so do Christians devoted to theirs. Hannah’s barrenness represents Christians’ barrenness in terms of blessings. As Hannah wasn’t blessed with a child so do Christians aren’t given any blessing. But what is this blessing, is this our needs?
Before we answer this, let us consider the blind Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was a man who has given up hope in receiving his sight. In his daily walk, he doesn’t need his sight for him to live; he uses other means of surviving and that allowed him to have what he needs. But does he want to see again? I believe that in the years that have passed, he lost all hope to be able to see again. What triggered his hope of seeing again? He heard the coming of Jesus Christ.
He was by the road where Jesus will pass by. He probably asked the people around him what the commotion all about was. They might have told him that Jesus, the Son of David, was approaching. He might ask again, “Who is this Jesus?” The people may reply something like this, “Don’t you know this Jesus makes miracles! He makes the lame walk! He makes the withered whole again! He raises men back from the dead! He makes the BLIND SEE!”
That hits the spot! Bartimaeus’ heart was pounding. He felt the surge of hope enveloping his entire body. He began to want something very badly. He began to want to see again. As he hears the approaching steps of Jesus, he began to cry out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd began to quiet him down but he shouted a lot more, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Bartimaeus knew that his "womb of seeing again" has been shut by the Lord but it didn’t faze him. He knew that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah. He knew that he will have his eyes restored. He knew that Jesus will give him what he needs.
Then, Jesus stopped walking and commanded him to come forward. Bartimaeus never wasted any time. Note that not only did he approach the Lord but he cast out the garment that represents his affliction. Jesus didn’t do anything yet but Bartimaeus already claimed while approaching Jesus what he wanted. As Bartimaeus stopped at Jesus’ feet, Jesus beholding his situation asked him, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” Oh, common! You mean to tell me that Jesus didn’t know what Bartimaeus wanted? Jesus knew it; He was asking Bartimaeus if he was sure of what he truly wanted. What if Bartimaeus changed his mind and asked for riches instead? To cut the story short, Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus. Halleluiah!
Opening the Womb
We all wanted something from the Lord. Like Hannah, she wanted to have a child. She wanted it because of three reasons:
1. to prove that she is blessed and not cursed by God;
2. to be able to feel what a mother would feel; and
3. to please God, herself, and her husband.
What did she do? How did she approach God? She did it in with these steps:
1. she recognized her wants apart from her needs;
2. she approached the Lord in a very humble way with a crying and needful heart;
3. she vowed a vow. She made a promise unto the Lord that she will lend the man-child that the Lord may give unto her and that he will serve the Lord;
4. she poured out her feeling towards her petition that even if Eli, the priest, rebuked her, because he thought that she was drunk, she wasn’t ashamed nor afraid to tell the priest that she was pouring out her soul unto the Lord and that she had a sorrowful spirit;
5. she asked the blessing of the priest that her petition be granted by God;
6. she claimed the answer to her petition with a joyful spirit.
What happened after that? Did God hear her prayers? Did God grant her petition? The answer is yes. God opened up her womb and she conceived and gave birth to Samuel. What did she do after she gave birth? Did she honour her vow unto the Lord? She did and offered Samuel unto the Lord to be lent for the service of God.
Wait; if she gave her son to the service of the Lord then she lost her son after weaning him? She could only see her son once a year so how could she have the feeling of a mother? When Hannah was truthful on her vow, the Lord blessed her with three sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21). She was blessed exceedingly more than what she expected! Like Bartimaeus, Hannah received what she wanted and she was made whole because of her faith.
OPENING THE WOMB OF BLESSINGS
By Ptr. JC Balao
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
1 Sam 1:9-18 KJV