Hannah’s Prayer

Hannah’s Prayer

Q: When Eli saw Hannah praying in the Tabernacle, he thought

• a. she was happy to be there.
• b. she was tired from walking so far.
• c. she had drunk too much wine.

Hannah lived during the time of the judges. She was married to Elkanah, who had another wife named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah didn’t have any. However, Elkanah loved Hannah more than Peninnah. Peninnah knew it and reacted by taunting Hannah because Hannah was childless.

Every year Elkanah traveled to the Tabernacle at Shiloh to take part in religious feasts. One year Hannah went to the Tabernacle to ask God to give her a son. She promised she would dedicate him to the Lord. Eli the priest saw Hannah’s mouth moving but didn’t hear any words. He said, “Must you come here drunk? Throw away your wine!”

Hannah assured him that she was okay and that she was pouring out her heart to the Lord. Once Eli understood, he told her, “Go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”

Hannah went home and soon was pregnant. She delivered a son she named Samuel. Just as Hannah promised, she took him to the Tabernacle to serve as soon as he was old enough to be away from her.

Hannah kept her promise to God and dedicated Samuel to the Lord’s work. All of us should be dedicated to God’s work, but Samuel lived and worked full time in the Tabernacle. God has different plans for everyone, but he expects each person to serve wherever he or she is.

For You

God has a plan for you. He may call you to be a pastor or a missionary, or he may plan for you to serve as a teacher, doctor, lawyer, janitor, or plumber. God needs dedicated Christians to reach people in all areas of life.

Answer: c

As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking.   1 Samuel 1:12-13

(The Whole Story: 1 Samuel 1)