Immanuel in the Creation of Each Person

find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him." (1 Samuel 1:1-20)

Again the LORD teaches patience with Hannah. She undergoes trials and tribulations, specifically scorn and contempt by the "other woman." But unlike Sarah and Abraham, she does not take matters into her own hands. She takes her problem to the LORD in prayer. Immanuel is with Hannah and Samuel-he creates the child in the barren womb. This child had a purpose in Jahweh's kingdom, even before his birth and conception. Yes, even before creation God had planned that Samuel would be born to barren Hannah and would serve as a prophet to the LORD's people!

Finally we look at a barren woman in the New Testament whose miracle of conception is vital to Salvation History. Luke introduces us to Elizabeth:
In the time of Herod king of Judah there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were well along in years.
Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John (meaning: Jahweh has given). He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will

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