For the first half of this spring semester 2022, I took a class that spoke about the topic of women in ministry, and more specifically, in ministry leadership. This class involved researching the theology of women’s role in the church, discussing challenges women face in ministry and how to overcome them, and listening to stories of women who have experience in church leadership. One of my favorite assignments was one where I was encouraged to “live” with a biblical mentor—a woman in the Bible who could teach me and empower me as a developing leader. I chose to study Hannah, and I am writing this post with the purpose that I can share with you what I learned. I hope you find Hannah's story just as inspiring as I do.
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Summary: Hannah’s story can be found right at the beginning of the first book of Samuel. She was the wife to Elkanah, and though she was deeply loved by her husband, she was ridiculed by her husband’s second wife, Peninnah, because she could not have children. Hannah was one of the barren women in the Bible. She desperately wanted to have a child, so she went to the temple and prayed. She vowed that if God would give her a son, she would give that son back to the Lord as a Nazarite. She prayed so fervently that the priest Eli took her to be drunk. Hannah responded that she was “pouring out [her] soul before the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:15). Eli prophesied that God would grant her request, and she believed it. Hannah had a son, whom she named Samuel because God had heard her. She kept her vow to the Lord by giving him away to be a servant in the temple. The Bible includes Hannah's prayer, which emphasizes the sovereignty of God, who humbles the strong and rises up the weak.
Hannah demonstrates many traits that are inspirational to me as a developing female leader. First, she is passionate in prayer. Hannah had a deep longing for a son, and she incorporated those emotions while she communed with God. Second, Hannah trusted in and praised God’s sovereignty. She believed that she would have a son, and when she did, she exalted the name of the sovereign Lord. Third, Hannah was faithful. She demonstrated this as she was obedient to the promise she had made with God by sacrificing her first child to fulfill God’s purposes. Hannah’s life provides many traits that we can observe and conform to.
Hannah modeled passionate prayer. What most caught my attention was the way that Hannah involved her emotions in her prayer. 1 Samuel 1:10 says “she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” She cried in the presence of God. Though God provides joy, the feelings of sadness or grief that we bring to him are valid, and God accepts them graciously. Additionally, Verse 14 explains that Hannah prayed in her heart, not through words. The ancient people would almost always speak prayers audibly, so Hannah’s manner was contrary to the custom in Israel at the time. Eli even thought she was drunk. However, God accepted this prayer that came from her heart rather than superficiality, and he answered it. Hannah shows us that prayer should not be approached with apathy, but with passion. Nor should it be limited by tradition, but set free by authenticity. As leaders in ministry, let our prayer come from a spirit of passion for the will of God to be done here on earth.
Hannah trusted in and praised God for his sovereignty. I didn’t catch the significance of 1 Samuel 1:18 right away, which says “then [Hannah] went her way and ate, her face no longer sad.” I first overlooked this verse because it is a transitional sentence between more noteworthy events. However, this verse is important as it implies that Hannah believed that Eli was right—she would have a son. Her face was no longer sad. She had incredible trust in God’s power and grace. She did not go away anxious, but expectant. We, too, can go into the world expectant that God answers our prayers. In addition to trust, Hannah teaches us that our reaction to God’s sovereignty should be praise. Hannah dedicated a prayer to God, rejoicing in his sovereignty and salvation (1 Samuel 2:1-10). As leaders, let us testify to the world that God answers our prayers, and that he deserves the praise. Suffering does not have the final word.
Hannah was faithful. She made a vow that if God would give her a child, she would give away that child to serve in the house of the Lord. When God did grant her a child, Hannah had a choice to make: disregard the vow, or remain faithful to it. Hannah chose the latter. 1 Samuel 1:27-28 remarks “for this child I prayed, and the Lord granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” Out of thanksgiving, Hannah fully held onto that vow. Although she did not know this, Hannah’s son Samuel would become an essential instrument to Israel’s deliverance from the Philistines and to the establishment the monarchy. I now challenge myself, as a leader, to look at my life with a lens of thanksgiving so that I may live my life faithfully, letting go of the things I hold most dearly, so that God will use them according to his purpose.
There are also some characteristics of God that shine in this short narrative, which are important to remember as we embark on our journeys of ministry and discipleship. First, God is in control of our situation. He knows, he hears us, and he acts on our behalf. Nothing is too hard for him. Second, God has the power over life and death, and God may take back what he gives. This concept is illustrated in God’s giving of Samuel’s life and then taking him back. This has remarkable connections to the story of God’s people.
God demonstrated his control over Hannah’s life by giving her a child. He heard her prayer and granted it to her. Only God has this power, and he exercises it freely. God’s control over my life brings me comfort. As a leader, I will run into difficulties. However, Hannah teaches me there is not a mountain he cannot move, and that there is no circumstance that will separate me from God’s love.
Also, God is sovereign over all things—even life and death. This is demonstrated through the birth of Samuel and Hannah's other five children. Hannah devotes an entire prayer to God with this theme.
Throughout the Bible, God bestows children to several barren women—Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel name a few. Barrenness has a captivating connection to the story of God’s people. Through giving children to barren women, God demonstrates that he has power over life and death. In connection, the prophet Isaiah called Daughter Zion barren. During the exile, Israel was cursed, however, God said he would bless Israel following the return. Only God has that power to restore. Additionally, the complication in childbirth only contributes to the amazement that is the promised Son, directing a spotlight onto God’s role in conception and birth. However, we must remember that what he gives, he may take away, and in every story of a barren woman, the son is given back to God in some way. Zion was a barren woman until Jesus came. Jesus was sacrificed for our sins that we may be saved. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
In final words, having regular time of full communion, as demonstrated by Hannah, is important to any leader. It is through knowing and intimacy that God transforms us into the person he meant for us to be. God’s presence is refreshing, and the energy that God gives us should be the fuel for our discipleship. Additionally, the fullness we have in the Father should cause us to respond in this way: to give away our things and desires so that his will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Is this not a fundamental piece to the leadership Jesus modeled for us in giving his life for our salvation?
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"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord." 1 Samuel 1:27-28