She Opened Her Heart to God in Prayer

"Why Does Your Heart Feel Bad?"

The Bible revealsww two big problems in Hannah's life.  She had little control over the first and none at all over the second. In the first place, she was in a polygamous marriage, with a rival wife who hated her. In the second place, she was barren.  That condition is difficult in any wife who longs to bear children; But in Hannah's time and culture, it was source of instense grief. Each family counted on offspring to carry on the family name. Barrenness seemed a bitter reproach and shame.

Hannah might have borne her burden with fortitude had it not been for Peninnah. Polygamy was never an ideal situation. Rivalry, strife, ad heartache were all too common. The practice was far from the standard of monogamy that God had set  in the garden of Eden.  (Genesis 2:24) The Bible thus paints a grim portrait of pologamy, and the poignant depiction of life within Elkanah's household is one of the telling brushstrokes in that picture.

Elkanah loved Hannah the most. Jewish tradition has it that he married Hannah first and that Peninnah came along some years later.  At any rate, Peninnah, was deeply jealous of Hannah, found many ways to make her suffer.  Peninnah's great advantage over Hannahy had to do with fertility.  Peninnah produced one offspring after another, and her self-importance grew with each new child.  Instead of feeling sorry for Hannah and comforting her in her disapppointment, Peninah played on that sensitive point.  The Bible says that Peninnah vexed Hannah sorely "for the sake of making her feel disconnected." (1 Samuel 1:6)  Peninnah's actions were deliberate. She wanted to hurt Hannah, and she succeeded. 

Next time: She Opened Her Heart to God in Prayer - "Why  Does Your Heart Feel Bad?" - Conclusion 

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