Understanding God's Call

Eli said to Samuel,

“Go, lie down; and if the Lord calls you, you shall say,

‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”

So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before,

“Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said,

“Speak, for your servant is listening.”

What does it mean to be called by God?

Does God's call happen to just a few, or is it part of our Christian life?

1 Samuel is set in Israel’s early life which had known strong leaders like Moses and Joshua.

After these dynamic leaders, Israel divided into tribes at war with each other requiring a series of judges for these precarious times.

God needed someone to speak because, “The Word of the Lord was rare in those times” and “all the people did what was right in their own eyes”

God’s call begins with Hannah, who is barren, begging God for a child, and while praying, Eli, the priest, enters.

Eli tells Hannah that her prayer will be answered.

Hannah gives birth presenting the child to the LORD, which is similar to baptism or the dedication of an infant

Samuel, is sleeping in the temple with the ark of the covenant when, three times hears a voice calling and each time goes to Eli.

Eli doesn’t get it right away but finally tells Samuel to say, “Speak, for your servant is listening”.

What does Samuel’s story tell us about God’s calling.

God speaks through people.

We may miss God’s call because we think it’s coming from a person.

Perhaps when some says repeatedly, “Have you thought about feeding the hungry?” it’s God calling you to feed the hungry.

God speaks softly

It took Samuel going to Eli three times before Eli realized what was happening showing us a call may be a quiet, slow awakening to that call.

God speaks for justice

God’s call often involves working to change broken human systems leading one down difficult paths.

Think About It: How have you heard God's call?

An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections