“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, [1] the son of Tohu, [2] the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb.” (1Sa 1:1-5 NKJV)
Before us is the story of Hannah who had no children. Her husband married another woman, Peninnah who had sons and daughters for him. Despite the fact that her husband loved her, she was a sorrowful woman. Her barrenness was not her fault, neither was it the fault of her husband Elkanah. The bible says, “Hannah had no child because the lord had closed her womb.” It was the Lord himself that closed her womb. Yet Hannah was not satisfied with her condition. She was not satisfied with all the “goody-goody” that her husband gave her or his flattering words while Penninah provoked her severely and made her miserable. She could not settle on the fact that she was loved by her husband.
HANNAH ENTREATED THE LORD “So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the lord that she wept and did not eat”. (1sam 1:7)
Hannah fasted and cried to the Lord. The bible says, “… she wept and did not eat”. There was emptiness in her life even though she had every other thing she wanted. She knew she had no potion in Ellkanah as long as she did not have a child. She recognized her barrenness as something she could no longer live with. So she entreated the lord. Something had to happen, and her story had to change.
Though you are enjoying the goodness of God – provisions, good health etc. spiritually you are barren. But you are not born-again to be barren or fruitless. The bible says:
“Then God blessed them and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it, have dominion over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth. ’”(Gen 1:28)
This is God’s blessing and expectation on your life. You have been planted in the vineyard of the Lord and nurtured to bear fruit, fruit that will bring joy to God and abide to eternal life. Do you have spiritual fruit in your life? Since you became a child of God, how many souls have you brought or discipled into the kingdom of GOD? What about your home? Are you spiritually fruitful there? Does it not bother you that the LORD is expecting fruit from your life?
You need to cry out to the throne of grace that the lord will rid you of spiritual bareness. At the throne you can obtain mercy to be fruitful and your spiritual bareness will be over.
She Wept in Anguish “Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the lord, and she was in bitterness of soul and prayed to the lord and wept in anguish”. (1sam1:9-10)
My sister, my brother, how do you feel about your own spiritual bareness? Do you feel sorrowful that you have not been able to disciple any soul for the LORD? Does it not bother you that your hands are empty when he has invested so much in your life? Hannah prayed to the lord and wept in anguish. How wet are your eyes before the lord over this matter?
She was focused Hannah was not distracted while making her prayers to the Lord. She remained focused, even when misunderstood by Eli who thought she was drunk. She was not offended. She politely explained to Eli the issue of her life. (1sam 1:11-17)
The Lord heard Hannah’s prayer. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife. She conceived and bore a son and called his name Samuel saying, “Because I have asked of him from the LORD. (1sam 1:19-20)” she contributed a Samuel to the work of God in her generation. You too can contribute a ‘Samuel’ to your generation. You can bring up a voice for God for your generation, if only you can learn from Hannah.
Hannah asked and the Lord answered her. He will hear you also today, if you cry to him to rid you of this barrenness. Cry to him at the throne of grace. At the throne of grace yokes are broken; women receive their children. Rebecca was barren and the Lord was entreated, she conceived and gave birth to twins – two nations (Gen. 25:21-23). At the throne women receive their dead back to life. At the throne women receive strength to conceive. You will be heard at the throne. At the throne of grace, GOD will answer you and your barrenness will be over; you will become fruitful.
Arise and go out to where sinners are and preach to them. In your home, neighborhood, among your customers in the market, even in your local church, souls are there to be saved and discipled for the LORD. Respond to the great commission, “go therefore and make disciples of all nations”. (Matt.28:18-20). Go out to sow the word of GOD and the Lord of harvest will make you abundantly fruitful.