Hannah faced two main problems in her daily life: 1) she could not have children, which was considered a disgrace, and 2) her rival Peninnah would mock and humiliate her for being childless. This made Hannah feel abandoned by God and the people around her. Her only solution was to pour out her soul to God in prayer. When God blessed her with a son, Samuel, Hannah dedicated him to the Lord's service after preparing him for three years. Hannah's example of faith and dedication to God despite her struggles is presented as inspiring.

1. Lesson 3

2. What problems did Hannah face in her daily life?
1. She couldn’t have children.
Sterility was considered an affront and a blot by the Hebrew.
 Rachel said to Jacob: “Give me children, or I'll die!”
(Genesis. 30: 1); then, when she had them, she said: “God has
taken away my disgrace” (Genesis, 30: 23)
 When Elisabeth –John the Baptist’s mother– got pregnant,
she exclaimed: “The Lord has done this for me, in these days
he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among
the people” (Luke, 1: 25)
Similarly, fecundity was considered a special signal of God’s
favour.
 Rebecca was blessed like this: “May you become the mother
of thousands of ten thousands” (Genesis, 24: 60)
 “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's
youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them”
(Psalm 127:4-5)
That made Hannah
feel like she was
abandoned by God

3. What problems did Hannah face in her daily life?
2. Gibes from her “rival”, Peninnah.
Her husband loved her and treated her like he had children. Peninnah became
angrier because of that, and took advantage of every chance to mock Hannah
and humiliate her.
“Then the second wife, fired with jealousy, claimed the precedence 570as one
highly favored of God, and taunted Hannah with her childless state as evidence
of the Lord’s displeasure.
This was repeated from year to year,
until Hannah could endure it no longer”
That made Hannah
feel like she was
abandoned by the
people around her
E.G.W. (Patriarchs and Prophets, cp. 55, page 569)

4. It was because of
those problems
that Hannah
couldn’t realize
how valuable she
was before God.
Just think that “Christ
has demonstrated to us
the great value of souls
in that He came to the
world with the hoarded
love of eternity in His
heart, offering to make
man heir to all His
wealth”
(E.G.W. Sons and Daughters of God,
September 28)
Do you appreciate
yourself like God
does, despite your
problems?

5. She felt rejected by everyone, so her only solution was to
POUR OUT her soul before God.
When did you need to POUR OUT your soul before God in
your lifetime?
“Trust in Him at all
times, O people;
pour out your hearts
to Him;
for God is our refuge”
Psalm 62:8

6. When Hannah heard Eli’s blessing, she was completely
sure that God had heard her request.
Then, “her face was no longer sad”.
Do you thank God for everything
He does in you?

7. Before giving physically his son to serve
in the Sanctuary as she promised,
Hannah prepared Samuel for three years
so he could be a perfect offering for God.
“During the first three years of the
life of Samuel the prophet, his
mother carefully taught him to
distinguish between good and evil.
By every familiar object
surrounding him, she sought to
lead his thoughts up to the
Creator. In fulfilment of her vow to
give her son to the Lord, with great
self-denial she placed him under
the care of Eli the high priest, to be
trained for service in the house of
God… His early training led him to
choose to maintain his Christian
integrity. What a reward was
Hannah’s! and what an
encouragement to faithfulness is
her example!” E.G.W. (Review and Herald, September 8, 1904)

8. Are you preparing
your children for the
Kingdom of Heaven?
She exercises in her home a power more decisive
than the minister in the desk, or even the king upon
his throne. The day of God will reveal how much the
world owes to godly mothers for men who have
been unflinching advocates of truth and reform—
men who have been bold to do and dare, who have
stood unshaken amid trials and temptations; men
who chose the high and holy interests of truth and
the glory of God, before worldly honor or life itself”
“Would that every mother
could realize how great
are her duties and her
responsibilities, and how
great will be the reward of
faithfulness. The mother’s
daily influence upon her
children is preparing them
for everlasting life or
eternal death.
E.G.W. (Lift Him up, November 21)

9. When Hannah gave his son to Eli, she
expressed her joy with a praise song
that exalted God’s great power
(1 Samuel, 2: 1-10)
Let’s praise God for all the great things He does for you everyday

10. “And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and
said: May the Lord give you descendants from
this woman for the loan that was given to the
Lord. Then they would go home. And the Lord
visited Hannah, so that she conceived and
bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile
the child Samuel grew before the Lord”
(1 Samuel, 2:20-21)
What did you give to God that returned multiplied by Him?

11. “When the Judgment
shall sit, and the books
shall be opened; when
the “well done” of the
great Judge is
pronounced, and the
crown of immortal
glory is placed upon
the brow of the victor,
many will raise their
crowns in sight of the
assembled universe,
and pointing to their
mother say, “She made
me all I am through
the grace of God. Her
instruction, her prayers,
have been blessed to
my eternal salvation.””E.G.W. (The Signs of the Times, November 3, 1881)

12. ASSOCIATE truth – Why should I study this lesson?
DISCOVER truth – What does the Bible say about this truth?
APPLY truth – How can this truth affect my life today?
PLAN using the truth – How can I use this truth today?
TRANSFER truth to life – What changes do I need in my life?
ADAPT it!
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