Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah

Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah
by:Tabitha Norvell Insuliteangel29@gmail.com

The book of 1 Samuel Chapter 1 starts to tell the story of Elkanah, Peninnah, and Hannah. Elkanah was married to both Peninnah and Hannah, Peninnah was able to have many children with Elkanah but Hannah was not able to.

Now Elkanah loved both women very much and was ok with the fact that Hannah was not able to have children. When they went to the temple to bring their sacrifices and worship The Lord, Elkanah would give portions of choice meat to Peninnah and each of her children, for Hannah he would only give her on portion of choice meat because she had no children. Peninnah saw this and would taunt Hannah about the fact that she had no children, Peninnah's dtaunting brought Hannah to tears and she was not able to eat.

Elkanah could not understand why Hannah was so upset about not being able to have children, his response to her was : " Why are you crying Hannah? Why aren't you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me - isn't that better than having ten sons?" (1 Samuel 1:8)

I have listened to many friends tell me how their husbands just don't understand what we go through when we don't have children but want them so desperately. Even here in the bible Elkanah was not able to understand the hurt and the pain that Hannah was going through. It was not just the taunting from Peninnah that brought on these tears and anguish. Hannah truly wanted to have the joys of being a mother, that need was deep in her heart and she begged The Lord to full fill this need and want. I will get more into that tomorrow.

I relate to this story as I am sure there are many women out there who do as well. When our husbands or partners don't understand the hurt and the wanting that we have in our hearts it starts to pull us away from the ones that we love. We start to pull down into ourselves, we stop talking about what is hurting us because we feel no understands the hurt and pain that we are feeling.

Remember when you feel this way that there is one who understands our hurts, our anguishes and can see everything that our hearts desire. Share your thoughts, your dreams, your wishes, your hurts and your happiness with The Lord. Let him give you the promises that he has promised, let him make your dreams come true.


God Bless you all,
Tabitha