Week 13 I Samuel
I’m not so surprised when I start I Samuel and see this I-can’t-have-any-kids story.
I’ve seen it before.
Back in the middle of January I was reading about Abraham’s wife. Sarah couldn’t have any kids when she was young, but then the Lord’s guarantee came through years later when she was way too old.
Jacob’s wife Rachel couldn’t have kids. But eventually: God remembered Rachel.
Samson’s mom couldn’t have kids either. Then an angel visited her and said: you shall conceive and give birth to a son.
Ruth didn’t have kids with her first husband. The bible doesn’t actually say that she couldn’t have any, but kind of implies that because when she married Boaz: the Lord enabled her to conceive.
And now the Hannah story. Elkanah with his two wives: Peninnah who did have kids, and Hannah who didn’t. In fact she couldn’t – the bible says that definitively: the Lord had closed her womb. It’s only later that: the Lord remembered her. And Samuel was born. Hannah named him Samuel: because I have asked him of the Lord.
From time to time the bible returns to this interest the Lord has in people’s reproductive capacities, in conception, and in kids being born.
Notes: Sarah was asked: is anything too difficult for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14). Rachel: Genesis 30:22. Samson’s mom: Judges 13:3. Ruth: Ruth 4:13. Hannah: I Samuel 1:5-6, and 19-20. (Quotes from NASB version).