Here I Am (Samuel 3)

Hannah dedicated her son, Samuel, to the Lord because God saved her from the disgrace of not having children. So Samuel grew up in the temple, with Eli the priest.

Eli had two sons,  Hophni and Phinehas. No one gives their sons such names anymore because these boys did bad things. Eli did not correct them as a godly father would, which disappointed God the Father.

One night while Eli slept, God called Samuel. He thought it was Eli and went to him. "Here I am," he said. "You called me."

But Eli said, "I did not call you. Go and lie down," so Samuel went and lay down.

He heard the call again and went to Eli. "Here I am. You called me."Eli said he did not call him and told him to go and lie down so he did.

Samuel heard the call a third time and went to Eli. "Here I am. You called me."

This time Eli sat up in his bed. He realized that the Lord was calling Samuel and he said to him, "Go and lie down and if He calls you again, say, 'Speak Lord. Your servant is listening.'"

The Lord called again, "Samuel! Samuel!"

This time Samuel stood and replied, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

God said He would make the ears of everyone in Israel tingle when they heard what He was about to do. He said He would judge Eli and his family for their sins.

The next morning Eli called Samuel.

"Here I am," he said.

Then Eli asked what the Lord said to him. "Tell me everything. Don't be afraid."

Then Samuel told him what God said.

"He is the Lord," Eli said.

God was with Samuel as he grew up in the Lord. He became Israel's prophet. He even anointed King Saul and King David.

Think About It
We may not hear God's voice as clearly as Samuel, but we can grow up to know His will for our lives. It is written in His word. By reading the Bible and living as God teaches, we will grow up to love and serve Him as Samuel did.

Pray About It
Thank you, Father God, for the story of Samuel and how he grew from a young boy to love and serve you all the days of his life. Help us to be like him. Amen.