Teaching Others to Recognizing the Voice of God

"Then 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. The 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.' Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor had the word of the Lord yet been revealed to him. So 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. And 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.Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for Your servant is listening.'" -1 Samuel 3.5-10

God has spoken, but Samuel has never heard the voice of God. He assumes Eli has summoned Him and so he goes to see what he needs. But it wasn't Eli and so he goes to lie down again. A second time his name is called, and a second time he goes to Eli, only to be sent away again. A third time it happens, and this time Eli realizing that God is trying to speak to Samuel. He instructs him as to what to do, and then sends him back to wait for God.

I work with a guy who is an agnostic. His attitude towards God is, "You leave me alone, I leave you alone." He even told me a few months ago, "If God does exist, he doesn't want anything to do with me." To that I responded, "He does, but maybe you just aren't listening." That sort of grabbed his attention, but that was as far was it went. I truly believe God is trying to speak to him, he just doesn't know the voice of God, and there are so many distractions that he isn't able to hear it.

Samuel was a boy, he didn't know God yet, and he had never heard Him speak. When he hears his name being called, he naturally assumes Eli needs him for something. Three times it happens, and three times Eli tells the boy that he has not summoned him. But the third time Eli begins to realize what is happening. The old priest understands that God is wanting to communicate with Samuel, and so he instructs him on what to do the next time.

Men, do you know the voice of God? Do you hear it, and recognize it, amid all of the distractions? If not, how could you teach others to recognize it? How can you instruct your children, and guide them into a deeper, more personal and intimate relationship with God, if you yourself don't have such a relationship? If you want your children to know God, you must know God. If you want them to know the voice of God, you must know the voice of God.

That is not to say that children can only find God if their parents lead them to Him. But parents were intended to lead their children in the worship of God, and to set their feet on the paths of righteousness. Without this, the road leading to God is much more difficult to find.

Let us be men who know the voice of God because we speak with Him regularly. Let us teach our children, both biological and spiritual, to recognize His voice.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Ready to Hear from God

"Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli. And word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. It 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), and 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, that the Lord called Samuel; and he said, 'Here I am.'" 1 Samuel 3.1-4

Samuel is growing up and learning to minister in the temple. It was getting late, but the lamp had not yet gone out, and even though it was rare for God to speak, Samuel was lying down in the temple where the Ark of the Covenant was. The ark symbolized the presence of God among the people. The chest contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments, and the lid, the Mercy Seat, was where God would descend and receive the blood offering presented by the high priest on the Day of Atonement. God had been largely silent, but Samuel is there, in the place where God would meet with man.

The people's infidelity, and the actions of Eli and his sons, have caused God's silence, but God has promised to raise up a faithful priest who will walk be for Him (1 Samuel 2.35). Samuel is growing up, and is finding favor with both God and men (1 Samuel 2.26). And here in this moment, alone and quiet, in the place where God would descend to meet with man, he is ready to hear from God.

Men, are we ready to hear from God? Are we alone, with all distractions removed, ready to meet with God? God may have been silent recently, but His silence is not the same as His absence. Words from God may have been rare, but they are not nonexistent. God will speak, but we must be listening. Are you?

Let us make time to clear away the chaos and distractions that life throws at us. Let us intentionally enter the presence of God. Let us be ready to hear from God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor