9. The Story of Grace
The story of Grace is a very beautiful one. Grace was a woman who wanted something – wanted something as much as you have ever wanted anything in your life, and perhaps more. According to the story, Grace asked God for what she wanted and God smiled on her and answered her prayer.
But that has happened to many people. What is so different about the story of Grace is that having finally received what she had always wanted, this remarkable woman gave up the gift in order to put God before her own desires. But we cannot out-give God, and he then blessed Grace more than she could have dared to dream. Her story still inspires us today – for Grace was the biblical figure you know as Hannah. Hannah means Grace.
What Grace Requested You probably remember the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 – how she was infertile and how, in an age which had no medical help for this problem or any system of adoption, she deeply longed for a child. Hannah's longing led her to pray for a son, promising that she would give the child back to God, as a lifelong servant, if he would answer her prayer (1 Samuel 1:10-11).
Notice that Hannah did not ask for a child – she asked for a son. Her request was not for a son to carry on the family – because she intended to dedicate him to God. Hannah asked for a son so he could be used to serve in the tabernacle: her request was one which focused on the gift she intended to make to God.
Hannah was not alone in her infertility. The Bible records that Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachel – the wives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – could not conceive, but we are not told that any of these women sought God in prayer to ask for children. But Hannah stands out as a shining example of someone who went to
God in prayer, who asked for the seemingly impossible while demonstrating total commitment to God – and received what she desired. What Grace Received As the story shows, God heard Hannah's prayer and blessed her with a son whom she called Samuel (meaning "God hears"). When her son was born, Hannah rejoiced in her answered prayer, saying poetically of God: "He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor" (1 Samuel 2:8a). Many years later, the writer of Psalm 113 would pay tribute to Hannah's prayer of thanks when he wrote:
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children … (Psalm 113:7-9). But true to her word, after she had finished nursing the young boy, when he was about three years old, Hannah presented him to the high priest Eli for the service of God (1 Samuel 1:24). Notice Hannah's words as she dedicated Samuel: "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:27-28a). But a more literal translation of the last part of this passage would be: "I also have given back what was asked [prayed for] to God …." The more literal translation puts focus on the fact that Hannah gave back a gift from God, something that meant a great deal to her – the very thing she wanted above all else in this life.
Realize the extent of Hannah's gift – she could have dedicated her son for a specific, shorter, length of time. The refraining from cutting the hair of Samuel she mentions was the most important element in the so-called Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:5) by which someone was dedicated to God and to his service, but the vow was usually restricted to a limited time period (Numbers 6:13). Hannah extended this vow by making her gift a lifelong dedication.
But that was not the end of the story, of course. Each year when Hannah returned to see Samuel, the priest Eli would pray over the family "…May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord…" (1 Samuel 2:20). God continued to answer these prayers for Hannah, and she was blessed with two more sons and three daughters (1 Samuel 2:21). What Grace Teaches Us There are many lessons we can learn from the story of Hannah, which is truly a story of Grace. For one, the story shows us that God often blesses greatly those who have given gifts back to him. Also, we see in the story of Hannah how God often uses gifts which are true sacrifices in very powerful ways. In this case, of course, Hannah's son Samuel grew to be one of the greatest prophets of ancient Israel and God's leading servant of that time (1 Samuel 3:19-21). But we also see specific lessons in this story regarding prayer:
Hannah was not afraid to ask God for something she deeply desired (1 Samuel 1:11).
She approached God in total humility, completely acknowledging her own inability to achieve what she desired (1 Samuel 1:16).
She did not ask for a child – she asked for a son so he could be used to serve in the tabernacle –showing that her ultimate desire was to give a gift to God (1 Samuel 1:11B)
She gave thanks as fervently as she prayed for what she desired (1 Samuel 2:1-10).
Hannah also showed her total dedication to God in her prayer by giving up her son – dedicating Samuel – for his whole lifetime (1 Samuel 2:11).
Perhaps the greatest lesson of the story of Hannah is that we must never put what we ask for before our relationship with the One we ask. Hannah did not do that and, as a result, she was greatly blessed. Many have learned this same lesson: when we put God's desires first in our lives, he so often grants not only our needs, but also our deepest desires (Psalm 20:4, 21:2, 37:4).
PART FOUR:
INTERCESSION