The Story Of Hannah

Hello! and happy good first day of the week to all of us, GUYS.  For our "daily bread" this Monday:

THE GOOD NEWS (11 January 2016)

"There was a man from Ramathaim, in the hills of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah.  He was son of Tohu, son of Jeroham, of the clan of Zuph.  He had two wives, Hannah and Penninah.  Peninnah had chidren but Hannah had none.

Every year Elkanah went to worship and to sacrifice to YAHWEH of hosts at Shiloh.  The priests there were the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas.  Whenever Elkanah offered sacrifice, he gave portions to his wife, Penninah and to all her sons and daughters.  To Hannah, however, he gave the more delightful portion because he loved her more, although she had no child.  Yet Hannah's rival used to tease her for being barren.

So it happened every year when they went to YAHWEH's house.  Penninah irritated Hannah and she would weep and refuse to eat.  Once Elkanah, her husband, asked her, 'Hannah why do you weep instead of eating?  Why are you sad?  Are you not better off with me than with many sons'?" - 1 Samuel 1:1-8 

(It all starts with an ordinary couple living a familiar drama in a hill town.

The woman, in an inferior situation, as it will always be in Israel, is only worth the children she bears.  A man has as many wives he is able to maintain.  Elkanah loves Hannah, but in the way he loves his children.

GOD likes to choose HIS servants precisely from those families who have no hope of having children.  It is GOD who gives life to the dead and hope to those who have none.  The same happens with the birth of Isaac and John the Baptist.  In the book of Isaiah is a poem which starts with these words:  "Shout out for joy, oh you who were barren!" [Isaiah 54:1].)