Ordinary People Extraordinary Faith 1 Hannah Sticking with

Ordinary People: Extraordinary Faith 1. Hannah: Sticking with God 1 Samuel 1: 1 -20 ( p. 249 )

Sticking with God Facing difficulties. . . Shame, worthlessness, anger, depression, embarrassment, . . . The story of Hannah – Sticking with God Pressure Prayer Praise

1. Sticking with God through the Pressure The Pressure: Hannah could not bear children Brought shame on her: she failed in her primary role as an ancient wife Cast doubt upon her: only sin made God withhold blessing (Dt 7: 14) Brought misery to her: her husband took another wife – Peninnah Brought torment to her: the other wife provoked her “This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. ” (v 7)

1. Sticking with God through the Pressure. . . The Pressure of struggles is common Many key women in Scripture faced the same struggle: (Genesis 16 -18) Rachel: the mother of Joseph (Genesis 30) Manoah’s wife: the mother of Samson (Judges 13) Sarah: the mother of Isaac Elizabeth: mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1) Pressure tests and teaches: It draws faithful people closer to God It reminds us of our dependence upon God It strengthens our faith

2. Sticking with God in Prayer Hannah’s options – Fertility cults: rites, magic, incantations, potions, . . . Asherah / Baal worship: the Canaanite gods of fertility (Judg 3: 7; 2 Ki 21: 3) Hannah choice: faithfulness – “Year after year. . . ” she went up to worship him at Shiloh in spite of the pain Eventually she could say: “I will give him to the LORD all his days” (v 11) Granted her heart’s desire, her faith dedicated him unreservedly to the LORD

2. Sticking with God in Prayer. . . How did Hannah do it ? How can we do it ? It’s a choice It doesn’t always lead to quick results We push through in faithfulness & obedience No matter what; No matter how long If at times we fail – we will find God gracious and forgiving (Ex 34: 6 -7) Be willing to learn patience and perseverance while you wait “There has never yet been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering. ” —Theodore Roosevelt

3. Sticking with God: Praise In His own time God answered her prayer He gave Hannah a son Her response: She gave him to the Lord as soon as he was weaned (honouring her vow) She named him Samuel (“God heard”) She worshipped (1 Sam 2: 1 -10) God blessed her – 3 more sons, 2 daughters (1 Sam 2: 21)

Sticking with God There is purpose in the pressures of our own lives Remain faithful and persevere in prayer God will act to the praise of His glory Hannah was an ordinary woman from a small town in rural Israel. We still remember her to this day!