The Lord instructed Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow, to consecrate himself to the Lord, he is to abstain from wine and beer. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or beer. He must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. He is not to eat anything produced by the grapevine, from seeds to skin, during his vow. “You must not cut his hai throughout the time of his vow of consecration. He must be holy until the time is completed, during which he consecrates himself to the Lord; he is to let the hair of his head grow long. He must not go near a dead body during the time he consecrates himself to the Lord. Numbers 6:1-6
Do you ever have a desire within your heart? One that would only God can answer? Hannah had a desire to be a mother; however, she was barren. She had the heart to ask and receive. Hannah knew God had the heart to give. She held onto what she knew of her Lord. Are you in a place of barrenness in your life? Is your heart crying out over what you desire to have but can’t? If you face some pains that won’t go away, Hannah is just the person you will want to get to know.
Begin reading 1 Samuel 1: 1-2 and 1 Chronicles 6:33-34, 38
What do we learn about Hannah’s husband? What do we discover about Hannah?
Let’s continue to read 1 Samuel 1:3-5. What do we learn about this family? Elkanah was a spiritual leader in his home. He was obedient to God despite the time in which he lived. Elkanah traveled three times a year to worship and offer sacrifices at eh three required feasts held at the tabernacle at Shiloh. Elkanah provided for his children, Peninnah and Hannah. However, for Hannah, he gave her a double portion because of his love for her.
Read 1 Samuel 1:5-7. In this portion of scripture, we see that there is a grievous situation that exists. What is at the center of Hannah’s struggle? How did Peninnah fit into this situation? What does Penninah’s action tell us about her? How did Peninnah think of Hannah? How did this affect Hannah?
Peninnah ridiculed Hannah. Therefore, Elkanah favored Hannah, which then made Peninnah a rival. This taunting that Penninah did to Hannah was so much that Hannah stopped eating.
How did Elkanah respond to his wife?
