The Barren Womb

She must have been special. Something about her personality made her unique. Maybe she was warm and kind in a way most others were not. Maybe it was her smile or her care-free manner when in his presence. Maybe it was a soft and inviting humor over-lying a steadfast depth that set her apart. Maybe it was a character of integrity and humility that drew him to her. We know she was righteous, but we don't know how her righteousness was uniquely presented in her person.

We do know that he loved her. This was not the plastic, artificially flavored, buy-one-get-one-free, I'll-say-it-if-you-say-it love we are used to today. The story writer went out of his way to say he loved her.  Rarely is there a husband-wife relationship in this book where the writer takes time to note their love for each other. So we must take notice.

He loved her.

The way it sits in the story resonates a permanence. It's not boyish or fleshly. It is anchored in something beyond this world. We are not told why, only that it is. It is beyond reproach.

He loved her.

But she was barren.

She was barren and had a rival wife who was fertile and would push her face into the starkness of her infertility year after year. To be barren today is sad. To be barren in ancient Israel was a disaster. Kids weren't had out of sentiment. They were an economic necessity. Survival was dependent on household production. Children brought affluence along with promise of future generations. A barren womb sent a husband reeling into financial anxieties present and future, and brought his manhood into question. A barren womb sent a wife into an abyss of worthlessness. Often, it sent her out of the family ostracized in shame.  She was barren.

But he loved her.

Elkanah loved Hannah.

The presence of God floats in the backdrop of this story, but is He just in the shadows? Elkanah must have been special. He loved Hannah, and her infertility seemed to only increase his love where most would have cast her away. Upon scrutiny, he is as unique as Hannah. Elkanah is often criticized for asking Hannah if he as her husband was not better than ten sons. But what if Elkanah represents God? Elkanah displayed an other-worldly type of love in the rest of the story.  Is it possible that in questioning Hannah as to his worth to her that he is questioning God's worth to Hannah? I'm not sure, but I am not ready to write Elkanah off as self-centered. He may be asking her the question that needs to be asked. He may be asking her the question that God wants asked. The story teller does not give us that. He moves to the next scene.

Hannah was shrewd. She knew how to make deals with the creator of the universe. She knew He was the Redeemer God. Her barren womb was a pallet on which He could show Himself to the world. To deal with Him, you must have a good heart. She did. Deal made. "God if you give me a son I will give him back to you."

Samuel was born to Elkanah and Hannah. Hannah, remembering her bargain, readied to give Samuel over to Eli the priest once the child was weaned.  Elkanah emerged from the shadows again. His response to her plan could have been, "What? Are you crazy woman? I finally get a son out of you, a laborer, a means of production, a return on my investment in you, and you want to give him away. NO!!!"

But he loved her.

And he loved God.

Instead, Elkanah responded, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word." In this sentence we see the summary of Elkanah's character. He gives honor and importance to his wife, so that the Lord may receive glory. This is the story of Elkanah and Hannah and Samuel. It is also our story and our future. The barren womb becomes fertile - the dry bones dance - the slaves leave with the treasure of their oppressors - the dragon is thrown down - the land is healed - the orphan is taken in - justice is established - and the rightful King takes his throne.  Jesus Christ reigns forever! And we can be part of it because....

He loves us.