Hannah: A Mother’s Sacrifice Series

Our Mother’s Day message for this morning is entitled, “Hannah: A Mother’s Sacrifice.” Mother’s know how to make sacrifices, for they will go to great lengths, even at cost to their own well-being, to make their children happy. In the account we will see this morning we will witness a mother’s love for God and for her son. Her love for God was so great that she would sacrifice something very dear to her, and her love for her son was so immense that she would release her hold on his life so that he could go on to have the Lord’s best.

This is the account of a mother’s sacrifice, and as we look at her sacrifice I am hoping we can gain some insight and encouragement that can be applied to Christian mothers today as they make sacrifices for both God and family. Mother’s, this message is also a tribute to the many sacrifices you have made, and I hope you will believe that you did not make them in vain. Your children and your God appreciate all you have done, and your children are better individuals because of your love; and also, the Lord’s kingdom has been advancing because of your dedication to the church. As you have freely given, may you freely receive and be blessed by God!

Hannah Dreamed of Having a Son (vv. 1-2)

1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

Here we are introduced to the star of our message – Hannah. We read here that Hannah had no children, for she was barren up to this point in her life. In this day and time it was an emotionally straining situation to be infertile. A woman felt obligated to provide her husband with children, especially a son, for a father desired a son to help him with the work, to carry on the family business, and especially to keep the family name. Children provided a woman with a sense of self-worth, and were part of her identity.

The bottom line is that children were very important, and they are still important today. From what we will see in the Scripture, Hannah dreamed of having a son for her husband. Hannah was barren, but her name provides us with some insight into a change coming in her future. The name Hannah means “grace.”(1) The word grace means “a free gift,” and Hannah was about to receive and give away a very special gift.

Hannah Made a Vow to God (vv. 8-11)

8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

Right here Hannah and her husband were at the yearly Passover feast, and we read that she was weeping. In verses 3-7 we learn the reason why she was crying. Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, was provoking her and ridiculing her for not having children. And how did Elkanah respond? He responded the way many husbands do – he made it about himself – saying she should feel privileged just to have him as a husband, for he was better than ten sons. Of course he loved Hannah, for we read this back in verse 5, but he seemed like he didn’t quite understand how she felt inside.

When Hannah saw that she could not relate her feelings to her husband she turned to the Lord, which is where we should all go when we are in anguish or have feelings that just seem inexpressible to any human being. When we need someone to go to Jesus will be there to lean on, for He is our closest friend (John 15:13-15). In 1 Peter 5:7 we are told, “Cast all your care on Him, for He cares for you.” So mothers, what are your cares this morning? I am sure you have a lot of them. Remember to cast your cares on the Lord.