“I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshipped the LORD there. 1^st Samuel 1:27-28 (NIV)

The Honor of Hannah’s Sacrifice

It’s often been quoted “There are no atheists in foxholes.” I have watched many documentaries where someone in a horrific combat situation said, “I called out to God and said ‘God, if you get me out of this alive, I’ll serve you the rest of my life.’” God apparently did, as these men were there to testify to His gracious deliverance. But I have yet to hear any say, “And since then I have honored that vow.”

Whether they did or did not is up to me to judge but leaving that out seems an important aspect that speaks of the integrity of honoring a vow made to the Lord. God said, “If a man [which includes both men and women] makes a vow or a pledge they must not break their word but must do everything they said,” (Numbers 30:2).

Hannah’s vow had a time limit when she would be brought to having to choose to surrender her only son and child to the LORD with no guarantee she would have any more children. I’m sure there were moments of flittering justifications in her mind as to why she could keep Samuel for herself.

The ages of Samuel’s offering to the LORD have been estimated to be between 5 and 12 years old. The context seems to be at a lower age, as it says she waited until he was weaned and ‘the child was young,’ (v 1:24). If one is a parent, it can be easily imagined how difficult giving a child up would be, even if you knew there might be more that could be born.

Hannah’s offering was more than just keeping her word to the LORD, it was a deeply personal sacrifice, a sacrifice of a broken and contrite spirit. While Scripture tells us God has taken pleasure in the aroma of the sacrifice (Genesis 8:21, Leviticus 2:2), it isn’t the odor of smoke that pleases Him but evidence of a humble and steadfast heart of trust.

Hannah’s sacrifice was an especially wonderful fragrance, for it was given in the preciously tender spirit of the widow’s mite, for it touched her at her very existence and at that point of her life was all she had that was too precious for words. That Hannah refused to find justification to keep her baby boy is a lesson in trust and integrity that speaks of the strength available to us through Christ Jesus to do the same.

When a vow comes due, we won’t have to say, “Oh, yeah, God, about that…it was a foxhole. Surely you aren’t going to hold me to that vow?” What He desires to hear is, “My offer to give my life to you in that foxhole has been honored.” If done in honor and truth, it is a sacrifice that might have hurt, but it will be a sacrifice of a rising and fragrant honor, pleasing to the Lord, as it was with Hannah’s honor.

Next week we’ll see that God honored the faithful fulfillment of Hannah’s vow and how He did it.

Ken