Better Than Sons

Hannah (which means Grace) was afflicted by her adversary Peninnah, because Peninnah bore children, but the Lord prevented Hannah from bearing children. This was of the Lord, who gives his church a picture of Christ in the husband, Elkanah. Peninnah pictures the religious who are left to bear fruits of the flesh in religion. Elkanah does something for Hannah he does not do for Peninnah and her children. Elkanah gives Hannah "a worthy portion", which pictures the grace our God gives to his chosen people whom he loves. Being tormented by affliction, Hannah could not eat the spiritual food, which was Christ. But when her husband speaks to her comfortably, she eats. After she eats, then she is moved to a heaven-born prayer confessing, if you will Lord, then I shall bear eternal fruit of my husband.