A Mother Who Dedicated Her Son to the Lord’s Service
I’m guessing that just about all, if not all, mothers have some vision of what they would like to see their children become. How they would like them to behave morally. What types of professions they would like to see them gravitate toward. What their spouse and future family would look like. With all the love and dedication mothers put into the children they bear, it’s only natural they would also have some desires in their hearts for how they will turn out!
Hannah from the Old Testament times of the judges had a very clear idea of what her son would be even before he was born. Her focus was so sure that she even put it in the form of a vow to the Lord. Hannah for years lived with the sadness of being childless. As part of her emotional plea to God in 1 Samuel chapter 1 she promised . . . . to dedicate him to the Lord’s ministry for his entire life.
Finally, the day arrived! Her first child, Samuel, was born. In the excitement of a new baby she could care for and raise in her home, Hannah did not forget her promise: “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always” (1 Samuel 1:22).
If it’s tough for parents to wave good-bye to their kids as they drop them off for their first year of college, imagine how it was for Hannah when she left her young son (maybe as young as three years old) in the temple to live and learn ministry! That was a huge sacrifice on her part, but it also resulted in blessing for the people of Israel as Samuel grew up to be a faithful prophet and spiritual leader over God’s people for 40-50 years.
Hannah was in a unique situation. And certainly all professions (not just church ministry ones) among believers are to God’s glory. God uses parents and children in many different ways in his kingdom. However, encouraging your children to think about ministry as teachers, pastors, and other ministers is worth considering. Our country is slowly becoming more secular. The religious “nones” have grown to 28% in a recent poll (Pew Research Center). Now, as always in history, there is need for those dedicated to sharing the Word of God.