Responding to God's Message: 1 Samuel 3:15-21
God respects the status of our heart much more than our heritage or pedigree. If He is the one with the power, He doesn’t require us to have great status or power of our own. All He needs from us is a willingness to follow.
Samuel lays until morning. It might be easy to think Samuel’s excitement over speaking directly to the Lord would lead him to talking about the experience. There’s truth in that sentiment. I’m sure Samuel was excited to speak to God directly. How could he not be excited?
On the other hand, consider the message God gave to Samuel. God told Samuel he was going to destroy Eli’s house. That’s not an easily shared message! Samuel knows if he tells anyone in excitement that he heard a word from God, the first natural question will be an inquiry regarding what God said. Samuel is a young boy. He doesn’t know how to deliver difficult words. Therefore, he does the smart thing and says nothing until he figures out a way to say it.
Because Samuel isn’t talking, Eli comes to him and asks. Eli makes the right choice and gives Samuel the opening he needs to talk about the vision. Eli gets credit for being mature; Samuel gets credit for delivering the message and being obedient to the adults in his life.
Say whatever you want about Eli; I confess to having often used Eli as a negative example. There can be no doubt Eli is not easily excited. To spin it positively, some might call him even-tempered. Even when Eli receives the message of God through Samuel, Eli takes it in stride. Let God do what seems right to Him. Eli knows he cannot stand against God’s will.
Eli wasn’t the greatest priest. He certainly wasn’t the greatest father. Eli had trouble asserting consequences and expectations. Neither did he get angry at God for bringing a harsh word against him. Eli was a realist. He knew his faults. He understood why God would have an issue with his sons and even himself. Rather than grow defensive and do something he would certainly regret later, Eli accepts God’s message in stride. He doesn’t try to change, but neither does he lose his faith in God.
The focus in the temple shifts from Eli to Samuel. Soon everyone knows Samuel is the one to whom the Lord speaks in Shiloh. Yet, we aren’t told of any conflict between Samuel and Eli or even his sons. Samuel was a Levite, but not from Aaron’s line. Samuel wasn’t qualified to be a priest. Samuel wasn’t taking over the priesthood.
God is willing to use anyone who will listen to His voice. Samuel is the firstborn son to a random Levite named Elkanah and his faithful wife Hannah. He doesn’t have an impressive lineage. He was willing to humbly listen to God. God respects the status of our heart much more than our heritage or pedigree.
