Children of Promise

 

We are not told much of Hannah and her family after Samuel was born, though we do know that she had three more sons and two daughters (See 1 Samuel 2.21). Mary, the mother of Jesus, also had further children. James, Joses, Simon and Judas are mentioned (See Matthew 13.55). Both Hannah and Mary recognised that their children of promise had a special role in God's purpose. Mary found Jesus in the temple at the age of 12 when he said ‘…wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?’ [Luke 2.49] We do not know at what age Samuel was considered weaned and was taken to live at the tabernacle in Shiloh, but we do know that Hannah kept in touch with him and made him a special garment every year. [1Samuel 2.19]

This reminds us of the special ‘coat of many colours’ made for Rachel's child of promise, Joseph. [Genesis 37.3] That coat may have been a priestly garment as he was Rachel's eldest child. Of course he was not the firstborn of his father Jacob, but he was the first child of the wife Jacob loved most. He was chosen of God and was a type of Christ and he had the double portion of the firstborn through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. He became the ruler of all Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.

Samuel just like Joseph was the firstborn of his father's beloved wife. Samuel was not permitted under the Law of Moses to be a priest as he was not in the Aaronic line. He was a Levite in the line of Kohath. But Samuel was chosen of God and was a type of Christ. He became the High Priest as well as a Prophet and a Judge over Israel for forty years. We see in these chosen sons that God can overrule the details of the law for His own purpose, just as He overruled the condemnation of Christ when he was hung on a tree.

Jesus also had a special garment like Joseph and Samuel. This robe was made in one piece [John 19.23] and could possibly have been made by Mary. We can only wonder at the similarities of these three men; each had a special garment and each were children of promise. We can rest assured that Rachel, Hannah and Mary were aware that the only covering acceptable to God is a garment of righteousness, but perhaps the garments they made were a reminder to their sons of their special privilege and responsibility.