Motherhood on Mission

Introduction:

 

Today I want to celebrate motherhood, womanhood, and sisterhood. We want to honor the gift of a woman.  God created a woman in His own image.  He created her distinct and different from a man.  When Adam saw Eve, he was blown away and called her woman as an exhuberant declaration.  I’ve heard Hebrew scholars say that Adam said “Wow!”

 

Our culture, our government officials in general, and our president specifically has assaulted God’s original creative design.  While we are certainly empathetic with families and individuals that struggle with what is called gender dysphoria, we believe the solution is not to cave in to an anti-biblical movement that provides no solution or hope but rather leaves people in their dysphoria and sin.  But rather in love with the good news of Jesus Christ for redemption, forgiveness, new life full of joy and purpose, in the spirit of 2 Timothy 2:25-26

 

25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

     

So today, we want to go beyond motherhood as childbearing to motherhood as a mission.  I want us to look into the first chapter of 1 Samuel and study the case of Hannah’s infertility, anguish, prayer, devotion, and worship.

 

It is the story of a woman who had great anguish and pain over her inability to have a child.  Many among our faith family have similar emotions.  Those who have not dealt with that cannot fully understand the sense of anguish.  But in Hannah’s day, the pain was multiplied on multiple fronts that are foreign to our day.

 

Hannah serves are a hero of one who struggled through her pain and disappointment to discover and live for a higher calling than simply bearing children.  Let’s consider this heroine of our faith and God’s mission as we consider Motherhood as a Mission.

 

READ TEXT

27 “For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 “So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

 

Let’s consider the context of this story.

 

Your economic wealth was directly related to how many children you had.  It represented your work force.  It was always the family business. 

 

Only 4 out of 10 reached adulthood, so future security for parents was dependent on lots of kids.

 

Nations were dependent on more soldiers to overcome enemies in military battle.

 

So, this situation is more than just an emotional desire, although that is certainly in play.  But in this situation, the emotional also had societal, cultural pressures thrown on top of the emotional desire.  So having kids would become an idol for women in that day.

 

This was exasperated by Hannah being a part of a polygamist relationship where her husband had another wife who was able to bear children. Peninah tormented Hannah because she could not bear children.

 

So, this ancient culture was oppressive towards women.  But today’s culture is oppressive towards women.  Most of the cultures of the Middle East are oppressive of women.  Most of the cultures of South Asia subordinate women.  Most of the African continent treat women with disrespect.  While we need to do better, I would submit to you that much of the world today is running far behind this country and culture.  But we too are oppressive to women. 

 

It is primarily girls and young women who are trafficked today.  Women are objectified for their outward appearance and cultural pressure is placed on women to dress immodestly and to look a certain way.  Women are oppressed now by allowing men to compete against them in women’s sports.  Women are oppressed by elevating a career over motherhood. 

 

Now like then there was a cultural reason, emotional reason, and theological reason for having children.

 

Abraham’s Covenant gives the theological reason as a way to bless all the nations.

 

Hannah wanted a child to serve the Lord and work in the mission of God and ministry of the Lord to the nations.

 

We have anguish in the difficulty of our circumstances.

The Desire and Prayer for Children

The Anguish of Her Situation

27 “For this boy I prayed,. . .

 

She was in anguish that drove her prayer because. . .

2. . . but Hannah had no children.

 

7 It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat.

 

10 She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 She made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”

 

She was in anguish because she was in polygamist marriage which is not God’s ideal.

2 He had two wives: the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

 

She was in anguish because she did not measure up to the societal expectation.

            Women were expected to bear children.

            Women were expected to bear sons.

            Children provided future workers for the farm.

            Children provided future soldiers for the country.

She was in anguish because she desired to be a mother.

She was in anguish because her rival Peninah provoked her.

6 Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.

 

Every culture has a Peninah that puts pressure and criticizes those out of step with the culture’s expectations.

 

There is also the voice of Elkanah, her husband:

 

5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.

 

8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

 

Elkanah argued that his love should be enough.  It sounds good.  But really its no different than putting your hope and self-worth in having a baby.  You just shift it from having a baby to having a husband.  Some single ladies and men here today are saying, I just wish I could get married.  But if she put her hope her husband’s love to complete her and fill this void, it would eventually turn bad.

 

We see that Hannah did not listen to Elkanah’s voice or Peninah’s voice, but rather she looked to and listened to God’s voice.

 

Some women look for value in the cultural expectations and from relational affirmation instead of God.  Anything other than God will not satisfy.

 

Since she does not listen to their voices, she turns to the Lord.

 

9 Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shilo. . .

 

10 She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

 

We have peace and favor from God and His people.

The Peace and Favor of Someone’s Blessing           

17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” 18      She said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

 

It was not prayer, pregnancy, then peace.  It was prayer, peace, then pregnancy.  When you trust in the Lord, the peace comes before the answer to prayer.

 

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication make your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

 

Notice is was God and Eli that blessed Hannah.  Eli instructed her to go in peace and pronounced a blessing that God would grant her petition.  Hannah sought the favor of Eli.  So while God is the only one who can give peace, God has His servants in our lives to pronounce blessings and point us to God.

 

How do we get peace in the midst of dire circumstances?

Prayer is the avenue to peace and favor from God.

The Prayer is Answered

. . . and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him.

 

20 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

 

Faith in God to take care of us and our family is the result of our prayer.

The Keeping of A Vow

Give your children to the Lord’s service.

28 “So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.”

 

She remembered her vow that she made before she became pregnant.  This was not a deal with God, but rather it was a vow that her son would be engaged in God’s mission his entire life, not just a season out of an obligation like military service to pay back college.  You give me something and I will give you something.  That way we both get something.   

11 She made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”

 

The natural inclination of a barren woman who finally gets a child is not to give the child over to service but to hold the child close and protect and even isolate them.  It is understandable to hold them especially close.  There is a balance between loving and caring and protecting and providing for your children in a biblical, godly, healthy way versus hovering, being overprotective, almost afraid of anything and everything.  We humorously talk about how we treated our fourth child verses our first child when it comes to what they eat and how protective we are.  You boil their pacifiers if they hit the ground on the first one and feed them food that falls on the floor after the second or third one.

 

She was giving her son to the ministry at an early age.  She understood that the Lord gave her the child and the child was really the Lord’s child.

 

He was to be a Nazirite for life.  He would not cut his hair and would not drink alcohol.

 

She was forfeiting much of the reasons for having a son in that culture.

He would not be around the other kids and mothers so others would know that Hannah had a child and was not barren. (cultural approval)

He would not be around to work and serve around the house and farm. (financial and security)

He would not be around for hugs and kisses and companionship. (family and emotional satisfaction)

 

She wanted to have the child for God’s glory and purpose.

 

She was not living for cultural pressure and approval, not living for personal relationship satisfaction, and not for career success.

 

She was living for the Lord and for His approval and His pleasure and His presence.

       

Worshiping the Lord is the practice that ensures sustaining family legacy.

The Worship of the Lord

28. . . And he worshiped the Lord there.

 

Samuel learned about worship at the knee of his mother.  His mother’s prayer life and worship life influenced and impacted him greatly.

 

Her prayer life and worship life accomplished more than what she was asking for.

 

3 Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh

 

19 Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in Ramah

 

2:1-11 The Song of Hannah (really a prayer)

1 Then Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;

My horn is exalted in the Lord,

My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,

Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 “There is no one holy like the Lord,

Indeed, there is no one besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God.

3 “Boast no more so very proudly,

Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;

For the Lord is a God of knowledge,

And with Him actions are weighed.

4 “The bows of the mighty are shattered,

But the feeble gird on strength.

5 “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,

But those who were hungry cease to hunger.

Even the barren gives birth to seven,

But she who has many children languishes.

6 “The Lord kills and makes alive;

He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 “The Lord makes poor and rich;

He brings low, He also exalts.

8 “He raises the poor from the dust,

He lifts the needy from the ash heap

To make them sit with nobles,

And inherit a seat of honor;

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,

And He set the world on them.

9 “He keeps the feet of His godly ones,

But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;

For not by might shall a man prevail.

10 “Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered;

Against them He will thunder in the heavens,

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;

And He will give strength to His king,

And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

11 Then Elkanah went to his home at Ramah. But the boy ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.

 

Her sorrow changes into a song.

Her song speaks of a savior.

 

Motherhood with a mission considers God’s eternal purpose and kingdom.

The Ministry of Samuel

Samuel became a prophet of God.  He anointed and interacted with the first king of Israel Saul.  He also anointed David as the king of Israel.  David is the line through which King Jesus would come.

 

Samuel anoints David who becomes king of Israel who was the ancestor of Jesus who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

 

Mary’s Magnificat compared to Hannah’s Song

 

Hannah saw God working through suffering, sorrow, pain, the outcast as a precursor to Isaiah’s Suffering Servant Song Isaiah 52-53.

 

Jesus did not go to a throne but to a cross.

 

Jesus came to become humble and humanly weak to die on a cross, so He can save the poor, the lonely, the sinner, and the outcast.

 

We do not have to have cultural approval.

We do not have to be sustained by human relationships.

We do not have to be affirmed by career accomplishments.

 

We seek first God and His kingdom.

31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32        “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

Through 4 barren mothers

Through Sarah not Hagar

Through Leah not Rachel

Through Samson’s mother

Through Hannah not Peninah

 

Jesus is not just a King of Kings but also a suffering servant.

These women did not have the benefit of the cross to understand how God takes suffering and reverses it for our blessing.

 

Jesus is our husband, our bridegroom.  He is more important than the approval of cultural expectations and idols.

 

He is more important than even relational expectations of husbands, children, family.

 

Hannah rejected the cultural, held loosely the emotional, and put her hope and faith in theological reason and cause of motherhood.  She trusted in her eternal husband.  And what an impact it made.

 

Conclusion:

 Motherhood with a mission overcomes cultural pressures and approvals.

Motherhood with a mission endures emotional disappointments.

Motherhood with a mission embraces a theological, spiritual

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