Will You Pray?

Are you willing to be Hannah? Absolutely, I’m not suggesting your husband has another wife. I’m not even suggesting you are a wife. No, I’m not saying that you are childless and need to pray to God for a child.

What I’m asking is, are you willing to pray for a child?

For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: [1 Samuel 1:27 KJV]

Hannah’s husband did have another wife who provided him with children where Hannah could not. She wanted the child, but promised to give him away in service to God. As a result, Samuel served his Lord all of his life. His mother continued to love him.

Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. [1 Samuel 2:19 KJV]

Once a year she would see her child. Can you imagine planning each year’s coat, wondering how much Samuel had grown? Would this new coat fit him, be too small, or would he out grow it too quickly? How short the time must seem while they were together.

Even when her family grew to include five more children, that annual trip must have held special treasures for her. Hopefully she did not know all of the sins that surrounded her child.

Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. … Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. [1 Samuel 2:12, 17 KJV]

And their father knew this.

Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. [1 Samuel 2:22-24 KJV]

It cost them their lives.

And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. [1 Samuel 2:34 KJV]

It fell to Samuel to hear God’s call.

And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. [1 Samuel 3:10 KJV]

Are you willing to be Hannah, who prayed for her child, to the point God called him and he heard. Was your mother a Hanna? Did she pray for her child? Did her child hear God calling? Has her child responded “Speak; for thy servant heareth“?

What is God saying to you, besides “Pray for the children.”

Hanna presenting Samuel to Eli at the temple, by an unknown Children's Bible illustrator.