LIFE SCRIPTS

1 Samuel 2:22-26 NIV
[22] Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. [23] So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. [24] No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. [25] If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. [26] And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with people.

It’s scary when God earmarks you for destruction. That’s what happened with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. That is what was happening with the sons of Eli. Their sinfulness had reached unimaginable levels. Infact this scripture gives a highlight about them sleeping with women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting. There is a message this passage tells us. It warns us against living a life of sin. Yes, we do fall into sin and seek forgiveness as we turn away from it. But if we choose to continue in sin, our conscience is seared and becomes insensitive to the Spirit. That was where Eli’s sons were. Eli tried his best to correct them but to no avail. Yet this piece of scripture concludes with a contrast…Samuel continued to grow in stature with the Lord and with people. There is always a ray of hope in the midst of darkness. Samuel symbolised hope at a time of despondency in Israel. Just in the same way, Christ brings hope to the hopeless situations around us. When sin abounds, God’s presence is also revealed to us in a unique way.