Empty To Full
2 He [Elkanah] had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:2,4-8)
Love and marriage don't always go hand in hand - sometimes marriage is purely transactional. Elkanah's love for Hannah, even though she had given him no children, was likely a cause of Peninnah's cruel treatment of Hannah - jealous that, despite birthing several children, Elkanah still favored Hannah. Elkanah even regularly gave Hannah double the portion of meat that he gave to Peninnah and her children when they shared the celebratory meal after making traditional sacrifices at the temple. But neither Elkanah's words or actions could heal Hannah's heart. Similar to the division and pain created by barrenness in the story of Rachel and Leah, only God could resolve the hurt that the childless women felt. It is noteworthy that Hannah's sorrow ended when she knew God heard her prayer rather than when she got what she prayed for.
Biblical narratives are usually intended to communicate more about God than about the specific people in the story. Barrenness in the bible often represents any emptiness that only God can fill. Elkanah's love for Hannah despite her barrenness is emblematic of God's love and care for the weakest, and Hannah's eventual conception of Samuel and later fruitfulness (Hannah would go on to have five more children after Samuel) are reminders of God's ability to do the seemingly impossible. That Samuel would become a renowned prophet shows that God can do great things from meager beginnings. We may not get everything we pray for, but knowing that the creator of the universe is listening to the cries of our hearts can give us comfort and peace. We can rest in the faith that, in God's time and in God's way, God will fill our emptiness.
7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low; he also exalts. 8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world. 9 He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked will perish in darkness, for not by might does one prevail. 10 The LORD! His adversaries will be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed."
(Hannah's Song, 1 Samuel 2: 7-10)
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