Illusion of Control

Are you familiar with the story of Hannah? It is told at the beginning of the book of Samuel. She is a barren woman who yearns for a child. She ends up presenting herself to God in prayer. Eli finds her and sees that she is praying earnestly, although at first he mistakes her prayers for drunkenness. Following this time of prayer, she becomes pregnant.

I was reading about Hannah in the Frymer-Kensky book. She says that rabbinic authors throughout time have wondered what Hannah prayed. What was so convincing that God granted her request? Many theories have been presented, most of them very paternalistic (such as, "Dear God, why give me a uterus if you don't intent for me to use it?").

To me, it speaks of our need to be able to explain everything. Why do we find it comforting to think that everything has a reason? Why do we equate the idea that God is control with everything having a reason? And why do we arrogantly assume that we can understand what God does? I wonder if it gives us an illusion of control.