Samuel Hears the Word of. God

God Blesses and Recreates

Jacob Forms a Relationship with God

1 Samuel 3:1-9 The Message 

“Speak, God. I’m Ready to Listen”

3 1-3 The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested.
4-5 Then God called out, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Yes? I’m here.” Then he ran to Eli saying, “I heard you call. Here I am.”
Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” And so he did.
6-7 God called again, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.”
Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.)
8-9 God called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.”
That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed.

For Reflection

To what extent are you ready to listen? Samuel had to be told that the voice he heard was God's call. God speaks to us in unexpected ways. Sometimes like Samuel, we hear this little inner voice and we ask, "Could it be?" Occasionally, we are suddenly aware of an urge to act, a feeling that won't go away. At times it comes from the voices of others that result in a compelling response to service.
Just hearing the call tells you something about the work of the Holy Spirit in your soul. It says you are tied to God in a unique way that requires a choice to accept God's call and follow it to its conclusion.  God's call is the spark that ignites your soul into action.

Pray

The call of God demands a response.  Seek the wisdom of God through prayer.  Pray so that you can see more clearly the intentions of God's request.  Pray so that you can discover the most loving choice you can make.  Pray so that you are open to the pathways God has prepared for you.  Pray so that you will have courage and conviction to follow through. Pray so that you can hear God's whispered counsel. 

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