We're going to take a look at 1 Samuel 3, which contains one of the most well known stories in the entire bible.
God calls to Samuel in the middle of the night and Samuel assumes it is his master, Eli. When he gets to Eli's room, Eli informs Samuel that he hadn't called for him, so Samuel returned to bed. God called Samuel two more times that night, and the same protocol was followed each time. Finally, by the third call of God, Eli realized who was calling the young man. Eli instructed Samuel: "If the voice calls again, say, 'Speak, God. I'm your servant, ready to listen." (v. 9) Samuel returned to bed and when God came calling for him, Samuel answered, "Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen." (v. 10)
1. Samuel was not familiar with God.
Samuel had not had a personal encounter with God up to this point. Samuel had never heard the voice of God. But he recognized it as a voice of authority and possibly fatherly. He immediately thought it was Eli, who was his master and Eli had called him son.
In order to hear from God we have to have an encounter. A first experience.
We have to open our ears to hear him and close our mouths enough to truly listen. Meaning, we have to be willing to hear God out instead of deciding for ourselves what God is trying to communicate to us.
2. Samuel was direct with God. God was direct with Samuel.
I love the way that the Message translation puts this. "Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen." So direct and to the point.
Samuel could have said "Oh Lord God, creator of the heavens which are so vast in splendor, if you wish to speak to me you may do so now because I am currently in a position where I can hear you better."
Instead Samuel cut to the chase, not wasting any time. In return, God also spoke swiftly with Samuel. He spoke plainly, putting everything out on the table.
Sometimes we make a huge scene out of speaking with God. In reality, it doesn't need to be so extravagant. Our communication with God is simple. It is son-to-Father and Father-to-son. God longs for communication not huge, scripted, Olde-English non-sense.
3. Be open to the message you receive.
Samuel knew that God had handed him some heavy information. God was planning to bring judgement on Eli and his family for the wrongs of Eli's sons. It wasn't going to be pretty. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli, he was afraid to deliver the message. But Eli summoned him, calling him his son. Eli asked Samuel to tell him everything that God said, not sparing any detail. So Samuel did. How did Eli respond? "He is God. Let him do whatever he thinks best."
While Eli recognized God's authority over the matter, his last sentence is what really gets me. "...whatever he thinks is best." God obviously knows what is best, but Eli was so distraught by God's judgement that he subtly undercut God's knowledge of what is good and just.
When we feel that God has done something unjust to us we do this same thing. Perhaps not in so many words, perhaps not even vocally; but often when we feel wronged by God, suddenly he isn't as all-knowing as he was when everything was going well.
In this instance we should take a cue from Hannah (back in chapter two) where she praises God and celebrates not only his mercy but also the fact that God gives and takes away. Hannah sings this song of praise on the very day that she gives Samuel to the church!
In all circumstances, God's will is just. We have to get behind him. When God tells us something, good or bad, we must be willing to open our hearts and our minds and accept what God is telling us.
I hope this has been encouraging for you. If you are reading this as a pastor and would like to use this for a series there is "God is Calling" artwork available for purchase at creationswap.com
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