Hannah’s Third Height
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Many have heard Hannah’s story, but is it relevant to us? Let us see. Hannah’s family lived in the city Ramathoim Zophim, which means “two heights.” In this story, we meet several sets of two, sets of two contrasts. Hannah and her husband Elkanah were childless, but he was from the country of Ephraim, which means “fruitful.” To solve the problem, he took a second wife. Then one wife was childless; the other was fruitful.
Their names were also in contrast: Hannah means “grace,” and Peninnah means “ruby/red precious stone.” An inner beauty versus an outward beauty. A divine characteristic versus a material one. Other contrasts are also in the story: meekness and jealousy, feast and fasting, joy and sorrow, a husband’s love and his misapprehension, an apparent victory by Peninnah and real victory by Hannah, and something impossible for men to accomplish but possible for God. Hannah’s city, which had double heights, stands as a symbol of our lives, where good and bad are often found side by side. Today we have joy—tomorrow, sorrow. However, Hannah found the third height, the height where God lives.
She brought her problem to Him. In her prayer she expressed her faith in Elohim Sabaoth, “the Lord of hosts,” who can do the impossible.
She did not receive an immediate answer, but she gained the peace that only God can give. This was a time when the word of God was rare among the people of Israel. God was looking for an upright family in which to raise up a prophet.
Hannah’s family was imperfect, but God used it to fulfill His plan. Though Hannah had previously prayed earnestly for a child, now she not only prayed but also was ready to return His gift to Him to be used for His glory. Hannah’s life continued, filled with other contrasts. She asked for a child; God gave her children. The Lord of hosts also became the Lord of her little boy. She gave Samuel to God, and God made him a prophet.
God’s plans for us and our children are always much bigger than we can imagine. Will we allow Him to use us and our imperfect family for His perfect plans? For His glory? Are we willing to discover the third height, as Hannah did, and meet our God, who is able to do the impossible?
Galina Stele
