LIFE SCRIPTS

I Samuel 3:1-21 NKJV
[1] Now, the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. [2] And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, [3] and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, [4] that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” [5] So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.[6] Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!”So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call my son; lie down again.” [7] (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)[8] And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. [9] Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.[10] Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”[11] Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. [12] In that day, I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. [13] For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. [14] And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”[15] So Samuel lay down until morning and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. [16] Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!”He answered, “Here I am.”[17] And he said, “What is the word that the Lord spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.” [18] Then Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”[19] So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. [20] And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord. [21] Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

Do I know the voice of God? Well, Samuel was called thrice by God. Yet he couldn’t understand that it was God’s voice. Eli, who was walking contrary to God, knew His voice because he was accustomed to it. I like the analogy of a farmer who’s animals know his voice. When he calls them out, they run to him. Infact this analogy is the basis of one of Christ’s parables. But is it possible for us to hear God’s voice and not to respond to it? Ironically, Eli knew God’s voice. Infact he even encouraged young Samuel to respond to it. But was he responding to God’s call to him about his rebellious sons? Isn’t it also ironical that Samuel who wasn’t accustomed to God’s voice seemed to be the one who seemed pleasing in the eyes of God? In verse 1, its said that Samuel had been ministering before the Lord. But how come the one used to God’s voice couldn’t hear it yet it was only audible to the novice? For Samuel to understand that this was God’s voice, he needed Eli’s input. Likewise, God needed to communicate to Eli about the pending family judgement. Remember that during those days, God’s voice was rare. So rare it was that it took Eli three times to figure out that it was God calling Samuel. When God speaks, it is for the benefit of others. He spoke to Samuel about the pending punishment on Eli’s family. How could this have been to his benefit? Remember the story of Nineveh during Jonah’s days? God had set His mind to punish them only for Him to forgive them after they repented. Probably, if Eli sought forgiveness from God, He would have spared him. But what was his response? “Let the Lord do what seems good to Him”(verse 18). Indifference and resignation were Eli’s attitudes. Probably, these issues weighed so heavily in his heart that he felt so defeated. Probably that’s the same way some of us feels when we zoom into our lives…we’ve messed up big time…hope seems elusive…let what’s meant to happen, happen…it is what it is…’wacha katambe sana’…’kama mbaya…mbaya’ in street slang. But will resigning to fate bring us closer to God. No. Repentance will. God’s word over our lives should prompt us to seek forgiveness and be willing to turn back from sin. But to the novice who is enjoying favour from God: seek wisdom from God first before speaking His oracles. Samuel was hesitant…and for a good reason. Eli was his mentor…he was a father-like figure to him. How could he break his heart by communicating such a strong message to him? But ultimately, he did. But we don’t see him despising Eli. He still continued to serve God with him in His tabernacle. Young novices remember that God is the one who appoints you. Yes, the experience might have fallen out of favour with God. But they are still God’s people who can be restored. So, as a novice, serve God with humility.