LIFE SCRIPTS

I Samuel 2:27-36 NKJV
[27] Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? [28] Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? [29] Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’ [30] Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honour Me I will honour, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. [31] Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house so that there will not be an old man in your house. [32] And you will see an enemy in my dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. [33] But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age. [34] Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. [35] Then I will raise up for myself, a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever. [36] And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, “Please, put me in one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread.” ’ ”

God had chosen the sons of Aaron as priests in the land of Israel. Eli was in this lineage. He was a beneficiary of this divine choice. However, this choice came with a condition…to walk righteously. Eli’s sons had done the exact opposite of what was expected. They slept with women near the tabernacle, they selected the choicest meats, they intimidated people, they took bribes etc. So now, God was pronouncing a judgement on the family of Eli. They had sat in a position of divine favor but were now about to lose that position courtesy of sin. God would cut off Eli’s family from the priestly lineage, they would die young, they would lose their sight and strength, they would end up as beggars yet God had ordained that they be provided for. What does this message to Eli say to me? I am in a position of privilege. I’ve been ransomed from sin. I have been delivered, saved and am a child of God. But for me to keep on enjoying the benefits of a life in Christ, I must choose the path of righteousness. Do I exchange truth for a lie? Do I allow lusts to take hold of me? Do I give or take bribes? Do I neglect my priestly responsibilities (just like Eli’s sons?). If so, there’s room for repentance. God is a God of second chances. He’ll restore us back to Him. But if not, then Eli’s fate shall befall us. This is not to say that all suffering comes from sin. But it is to say that once God abandons you, there’s no doubt…you’ll have it rough. So may God help us.