Hannah, also spelled Anna, (11th century bce), in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the mother of the prophet Samuel. Childless as one of the two wives of Elkanah, she prayed for a son, promising to dedicate him to God.
Hannah longed to give birth to a son. However, in I Samuel 1:5, 6, we read, “the Lord closed Hannah's womb.” Hannah prayed, asking God to give her a son for several years. Hannah felt hopeless, God was not answering her prayer, but God had a plan.
She prayed to God, reminding God that she was God's servant and wanted but one thing only. Then she made a promise. She said: "Oh, God Almighty, if you will only see my misery and remember me by giving me a son, then I will give my son to serve you, God, for all the days of his life."
INTRODUCTION: We are continuing with our series on Famous Mothers from the Bible, and today we come to Hannah. Hannah was the mother of Samuel and she is a wonderful example to us of prayer.
When Rachel pleads with Jacob, “Give me children or else I die” (30:1), her husband answers: “Am I in the place of God who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” (v. 2); when the matriarch finally conceives, she names her son Joseph [Yosef], “for God has taken away my reproach” (v. 23).
Sarah was childless until she was 90 years old. God promised Abraham that she would be “a mother of nations” (Genesis 17:16) and that she would conceive and bear a son, but Sarah did not believe. Isaac, born to Sarah and Abraham in their old age, was the fulfillment of God's promise to them.
Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
Deborah was a worshiping warrior. She found encouragement and strength in worship to be obedient to everything the Lord was asking her to do. If Deborah had played small in her life, she would not have had all the experiences that led to her being used by the Lord to deliver Israel from bondage.
Deborah. Deborah was a prophetess and judge in Israel during the time that the Canaanites were oppressing the country. She called on Barak, a military leader, to lead an army against the Canaanites. Barak refused to go without her, so Deborah went with him and prayed for their success.
Many of us are familiar with the Bible verse “I have prayed for this child”. It is seen on baby tees, blankets, and used as beautiful décor for many children's rooms. This famous Scripture comes from the story of Hannah, who desperately prayed to God for a miracle–a son.
Hannah is the first mother who prayed in the Bible. We are going to look at her story which actually began long before she was a mother. She lived in a difficult situation. Hannah married a godly man but shared her husband with a second wife who had several children.
Hannah's specific request for a male child is therefore a reflection of the preference for sons in ancient Israel, which derived principally from the fact that, in that society, male children were greatly desired for the purpose of the perpetuation of the husband's lineage, as well as for land inheritance.
The Bible does not specify how long Hannah was barren, a period that, according to the. midrash, extended for nineteen years.
Hannah as many mentioned is the key example of one who prayed for a child. However Leah ( Genesis Chapter 29) also asked the Lord for a male child. While not explicitly mentioned, I am sure Rachael when she was childless also prayed.
A Promised Son
Genesis tells us that God had promised Abraham and Sarah a child. As they grew old and Sarah remained barren, they doubted God's promise, but He had not forgotten them.
Children are a precious gift from God. As adults, we have the privilege and responsibility to care for them, pray for all children's protection and safety, and help children around us live the full and abundant life God desires for them.
Esther gathered all of her courage and told the king about Haman's plot. and Esther's people were saved! Her Strengths: Esther showed herself to be brave and strong in the face of great danger. She trusted God and followed His calling on her life.
The powerful praying woman prays…
God, I pray for a spirit that is teachable, a heart that is soft. Keep me from thinking highly of myself. I invite the Holy Spirit to correct me, prick me when my motives are out of line. Plant in me a spirit of awareness and discernment.
Lydia was the first convert to the Christian faith in the colonial Roman city of Philippi (Acts 16:11-15), located in the district of Macedonia.
In the biblical book named after her, Esther is a young Jewish woman living in the Persian diaspora who finds favor with the king, becomes queen, and risks her life to save the Jewish people from destruction when the court official Haman persuades the king to authorize a pogrom against all the Jews of the empire.
Mary Magdalene, one of the most well-known biblical women, was a devoted follower of Jesus. She was initially from a town called Magdala, and Jesus healed and delivered her from seven demons. Throughout His ministry, Mary Magdalene followed Jesus wherever He went and ministered to Him.
Sarah demonstrated faith and obedience while believing God's promises. She left her comfortable and familiar surroundings to launch her journey with God. These girls, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah stood fearless and firm and as result reformed the culture of their day.
Abigail combined her wisdom with her wealth to appear before an approaching enemy to plead for the safety of her husband's household.
' But in Genesis 2:18, having made the man some time before the woman, he said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him. ' That 'suitable helper' was Eve, the first woman. The first thing in all of creation that God calls 'not good' is the dire need for women.
Isaac met Rebekah there, and when he learned all that the servant had done, Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent of his mother and married her. Like his father Abraham, God has blessed Isaac with a beautiful wife. However his wife, like his mother, is barren.