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Hannah’s Story (1 Samuel 1)

Elkanah was a Levite and lived in the hill country of Ephraim.  He would faithfully travel to Shiloh and perform his priestly duties during the annual feasts.  During this time the Tabernacle of Moses was located at Shiloh, the first place where God’s presence was established in the Promised Land.

Elkanah had two wives named Peninnah and Hannah.  Peninnah gave him sons and daughters but Hannah was barren.  Peninnah would relentlessly irritate and ridicule Hannah to the core, especially during their visits to Shiloh.  The persecution and ridicule drove Hannah to seek the Lord at the altar rather than retaliate with bitterness and anger.  Great honor and authority demands great testing and trial.

Sacrifices were offered during their visits to Shiloh.  Peninnah and her sons and daughters received a portion.  However, Elkanah loved Hannah and she received the double portion.  The favor of God made the attacks from her rival even worse but Hannah’s passion for God grew all the more.  Her pursuit of God against all odds brought her the resources necessary to unleash the gift.

Year after year Hannah wept before the Lord making her request known.  Her husband asked, “am I not better than ten sons?”  God wants to unleash His gift in each of us and a substitute will not do, even if he’s pretty and treats you good.  She would never be satisfied with a substitute but only the fruit of God’s best.  Her passion grew in proportion to her desperation.

One year Hannah went to the altar and sought the Lord with tears.  In her moment of passion she made a vow to the Lord.  If He would grant her a son then she would dedicate him to the Lord’s service all the days of his life.  She would unleash her gift as a vessel for God’s glory and eternal purpose.

Resistance Builds Faith

On top of all the ridicule from prior years the high priest, Eli, falsely accused her of being drunk in the House of God.  It’s sad but he couldn’t discern between a worthy woman and one that was worthless.  Immediately after her words of dedication came out of her mouth the religious system criticized and condemned her motives.  The voice that could grant her request was speaking curses rather than blessing.  Hannah pressed through undaunted because the Lord knew her heart and the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord and He directs it wherever He desires.  The resistance is about the gift in you, not you.

Upon further examination, Eli acknowledged Hannah’s sincerity and granted her request.  Upon receiving the blessing her soul became at rest.  The struggle was over because her faith rested in the revealed word of the Lord.  The eye of faith will see beyond the vanishing point before the gift is known by the natural eye.

Hannah conceived after returning home.  You might say that Hannah was more relaxed and living stress-free.  The Bibles says she acted on her faith.  There was only one immaculate conception and this wasn’t it.  Unleashing the gift is acting in faith according to God’s Word and His standards.  It is the only way to prevent an Ishmael.

A Time of Intimacy (1 Samuel 1:21-28)

Elkanah went to Shiloh the following year, as was his custom, but Hannah stayed behind and weaned her son, Samuel.  She became intimate with her gift before giving him to the Lord.  At the proper time she went to Shiloh and made sacrifice and dedicated her son to the Lord’s service.  The sacrifice added value to the gift.  Her dedication broke her heart and touched her check book.  Can you truly offer to God anything that doesn’t cost you something?  She pressed through the ridicule and false accusations to unleash her gift.

Eli blessed her a second time and Hannah conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:18-21).  Eli blessed her because of her dedication and faithfulness.  Samuel continued to grow before the Lord.

Great gifts are unleashed through great testing and trial.  These seasons are the proving ground of your faithfulness and loyalty to God so that the gift in you will accomplish it’s eternal purpose.

Timing is everything.

  • At the right time God will unleash your gift.
  • At the right time you will unleash your gift to God’s service.
  • At the right time He will return to you the manifold increase on what has been dedicated to Him.

Unleash your God-given gift back to God and it will impact future generations. Don’t be satisfied with anything but God’s best.  Don’t let anyone hold you back, either an adversary or loved one.  Now is the time to unleash your eternal purpose in God.