Intimidated by the Prospect

Good morning!

Today's text is 1 Samuel 3:1-18.

If you have been "raised in church" you probably know the story of Samuel's family.  His mother, Hannah, was childless for many years.  Being barren was viewed as a curse among the Hebrew women, and the situation drove Hannah to intense prayer, pleading God for a son.  In answer, God sent Samuel, whom Hannah had already dedicated to God's service before his birth.  When he was old enough, probably 12, Hannah took him to the temple to begin his training.  The chief priest of that day was Eli, who is the focus of our object lesson today.

1Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.

      2It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),3and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, 4that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” 5Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.” 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. 8So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. 9And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

      10Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 11The LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.12“In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13“For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. 14“Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

      15So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” 17He said, “What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you.” 18So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.”

In these verses God is calling out to Samuel, but Samuel had not heard from God before and did not recognize the voice as His.  Instead, he thought that Eli was calling him.  It finally dawned on Eli that God was calling Samuel.  He told Samuel to go lie down again and when he again heard the voice to respond by saying "I'm your servant, ready to listen."

God's first message to Samuel was not a pleasant one.  Verse 1 tells us that the word of the Lord was "rare in those days."  God also said he was going to do something that would tingle the ears of those who heard about it.  Wow, intimidating!  Samuel was told that judgment was going to fall on Eli's family and that no amount of sacrifice or other acts of service could reverse it.  The next morning Eli, of course, wanted to know what God had said.  Although he was probably intimidated by the prospect, Samuel told him everything.

God was beginning to use Samuel in His service.  I believe that this first message was a test for Samuel.  If he had not faithfully told Eli what God had said, then I believe God would have set Samuel aside and chosen another to become the last judge of Israel.

Why was God going to judge Eli and his sons?  Eli's sons had gone on to become priests in the temple too.  Unfortunately, they had become selfish priests who perverted the temple ceremonies, rules and regulations for their own selfish gain.  This behavior raised God's anger.  But, He appears to be even more upset over Eli's behavior, which was to do nothing to stop them.

So, here we have two intimidating situations, with two responses.
1.  Samuel was given a big job to do for God, almost certainly outside his "comfort zone".  His response was to be obedient and to take it on, to follow through and carry it out.
2.  Eli was given a responsibility to manage the temple and his sons according to the previously given laws of God.  This was obviously outside his "comfort zone" as well.  His response was to abdicate his responsibility and allow the temple to be desecrated.

The practical application to our lives is this:
You may be walking along in obedience to God when He calls you to something difficult, something intimidating, something scary, something you don't think you are able to do.
Do you remember the verse from a post two days ago?  2 Corinthians 12:10?
God's glory is manifested through our weaknesses.
In fact, I heard a preacher say one time that if God's vision revealed to you does not seem daunting, then it probably is not from God.

Listen, Christian!  God never intended for us to dwell comfortably in our sweet, little cocoons of materialism, drinking our Starbucks and saying, "Well, praise the Lord!"  This is what Eli was doing - - enjoying the benefits of his position while the temple and the FAITH descended further and further into corruption.

Is God calling you to something big today?  I have some friends who have heard God's call to shift their cozy paradigms, and they are responding in obedience.  Some are re-locating across several states to start churches; two are relocating to other countries.  Some started a ministry to feed the hungry here in my hometown or started other new ministries within our church.

God has gifted each of His children uniquely and equipped us fully for what He calls us to do, whether we feel equipped or not.  We must trust in His Sovereignty, His plan.
When we respond in obedience, God's power will do what we in our own strength could never do.  If you have been called, don't be fearful.  Follow Samuel's example; say, "Yes!"

Father, I think it's so amazing how you led me to this passage this morning.  I'm not surprised, but never cease to be amazed at how You work in our lives.  Yesterday, I felt you calling me to something new and different and yes, even scary.  You have my "yes", Lord, so that you may be the one who receives all the glory and honor and praise.  In Jesus' name, amen.