This post is Day 5 in a series of studies about “Babies and Children”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Babies and Children – Day 5

The two wives mentioned at the very beginning of the books of Samuel did not get on together. Today the underdog would run away and make a new life somewhere. In Biblical times there was no possibility of that and Hannah turned to the only One who could help her. God!

1 Samuel 1:2

Elkanah had two wives. One was called Hannah, the other Peninnah. Penninah had children, but Hannah had none.

The Thought

I often wonder if the multiple wives of some of the Old Testament characters ever got on well together. And why did men have more that one wife anyway? That is still accepted practice in some parts of the world, but happens secretly in others!

The two wives mentioned at the very beginning of the books of Samuel did not get on together. In this first chapter, we read Because the Lord had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her (1 Samuel 1:6). How awful it must be to live with permanent provocation. In much of today’s society the underdog would run away and make herself a new life somewhere. In Biblical times there was no possibility of that and Hannah turned to the only One who could help her. God!

And Hannah made a vow saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and nor forget your servant, but give her a son…”.

Hannah was very clear in her petition. She didn’t want a daughter because they were not counted as important in those days. She wanted a son to carry on the family line.

Many people, even today, particularly in the richer groups of society desire sons to carry on the family name and inherit the family business. But most of us cannot imagine the anguish that Hannah went through every time that Peninnah, her rival, became pregnant!

Action

Read 1 Samuel 1 today and imagine something of the anguish that Hannah went through. Pray for any you know of who cannot have children.

Pray too for any unwanted children that you hear about. Praise God that He has a plan for each one of them.

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