Hannah’s Gethsemane

 

“In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord… Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.”

—1 Samuel 1:10, 18

This story of Hannah in 1 Samuel tells us of a wife in a shameful position. She had no child. Not only that, but her husband had another wife who had given him sons and daughters and who tormented her with accusations. Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, made an annual trip to the tabernacle in Shiloh to offer sacrifices to the Lord.

On one occasion, Hannah could bear her pain no longer. As she wept and prayed, Eli the priest heard her and blessed her with the promise of a son. As a result of this promise, Hannah agreed to wean the baby and then bring him back to forever serve the Lord in the tabernacle.

Here’s what Beth Moore says about this story:

God had a plan. A marvelous plan. He allowed Hannah to be childless so that she would petition God for a child… He also allowed Hannah to be deeply desirous of a child so she would dedicate him entirely to the Lord. He sovereignly planned for His word to come through Eli at the temple so that she would return him to the exact place where she made the vow. Why? Because God had a plan for Samuel that was far more significant than even the most loving set of parents could devise.¹

Now, how does this correspond to Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane? I see it this way.

Most often the battle over submission to God’s will comes before the actual sacrifice such submission requires. Look at Jesus in the garden. Matthew 26:37-39 tells us:

He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled...going a little further, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

We read that Jesus left His disciples three times and went to pray the same prayer. He struggled with the enormous sacrifice and pain He knew was coming.

After a time of extended prayer, it appears that Jesus had found peace with regard to His submission that He made to the Father. Notice what He says in Matthew 26:45-46:

“Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer.”

We see in both stories of submission to God’s perfect will the battle and the peaceful outcome. God moved on Hannah’s heart so that her love for God eclipsed her desire to hold on to her son. God moved on Jesus’ heart so that His love for God, and for us, eclipsed His fear of the pain. In both cases, God enabled them to do His will. The struggle took place long before the sacrifice.

Has God spoken to you about something He wants you to do for Him? Do you yet struggle with the difficult decision you must make to obey? Has He promised you something if you will give it back to Him—not holding onto it for your own pleasure?

For you, like Hannah and like Jesus Himself, God promises you His amazing peace and will give you all the strength and help you will need to follow whatever He asks of you. God bless you, as you submit to His wonderful plan!

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1 Moore, Beth. Portraits of Devotion. Nashville:B&H Publishing Group, 2014. p. 8.