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Hannah is today’s Bible Hero because she showed us the gift of family
Essential Teachers notes:
This story is particularly suited if you have one Sunday set aside for the family, or for mothers.
The biblical passage is long but straightforward, if you have older children show them where the passage comes from, and let them read some of the highlighted verses out of their own bibles. For reference I’ve used the NIV translation.
Main Passage : 1 Samuel 1
Additional passage : 1 Samuel 2:18-21
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A very long time ago, long before Jesus was born, there was a man called Elkanah had two wives. Both the wives lived together with the man, one had lots of children, but the other wife, Hannah, had none.
Every year the whole family took a long trip to go visit one of God’s special places. They would have a big meal, and thank God for all they had received that year. Every year Hannah would look at the growing family and cry because she wanted so badly to have children. Elkanah would try to comfort her because he loved her very much, but Hannah would keep crying.
One year after the meal, Hannah left the family, walked past the priest, Eli, who was sitting by the door, and went inside to pray. Tears fell down Hannah’s face, her lips moved so fast, crying out to God to bless her with a child.
(11) And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty , if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
Eli watched Hannah as she prayed, her lips were moving but she made no sound. Eli thought she had had too much wine.
(14) and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
(15) “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
(17) Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him. ”
Hannah trusted Eli’s words and so she went back to the family and ate and smiled. When the family went home she kept smiling. The next year when Elkanah took his family to God’s special place Eli saw that Hannah was missing. Elkanah told him that Hannah had given birth to a son, she had named him Samuel, and now she didn’t just smile, she sang out in praise to God every day.
Hannah looked after Samuel until he was three years old and then the day came for them to go visit God’s special place. Hannah made Samuel a special robe to wear and took him to Eli. She told Eli that God has answered her prayers, just as Eli had said he would. She gave Samuel to Eli to live in God’s special place, to serve the lord every day with him, and to serve Gods big family rather than just her family.
Every year Hannah would come and visit Samuel and bring him a new robe to remind him of her. Some years Samuel would see Hannah coming with a new baby in her arms, because Hannah had 3 more sons and 2 daughters as well! It was hard for Hannah not to be with Samuel but she knew that Samuel would do great things for God’s big family, and she was right, he did.
Hannah is today’s Bible Hero because she showed us the gift of family
