I will give Him to the Lord

Devotional

Hannah’s vow takes on a similar structure to other vows taken by God’s people when seeking a blessing from Him. Look, for example, at the words of Jacob just after fleeing from home: “Then Jacob made a vow saying, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house , and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to you.’” Genesis 28:20-22 NKJV, emphasis mine.

Making an ‘if-then’ vow seems a godly way to petition God in times of need. However, God knows our hearts, and it would be unwise to make such vows without really meaning them! Ask the Lord to fill you with the faith needed to sincerely dedicate your future children to Him and His will for their lives. Ask the Lord for the wisdom and perseverance you will need to raise them in His ways all the days of their lives.

Prayer

Dear Lord, just like Hannah, we promise that if You give us a child, that child will belong to You for all the days of his or her life. We will raise our child such that he or she ‘may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.’ Our child will be Your child, and we will be faithful stewards. We will worship You like Eli and Hannah when You grant us our petition, Lord! We long for that day when our tears will become shouts of joy! Amen.