I just read 1 Samuel 3; 1-9. You know what always gets me about that story where God calls Samuel three times, is that God could have called him once, loud and clear, no confusion. But He did not. That tells me something important is going on.
The chapter starts by saying that God was not speaking much in those days. People were drifting spiritually, like they are today. Eli’s sons were corrupt, and visions were rare. Samuel is young, working in the sanctuary, sleeping near the ark, but he has never actually heard God speak before. When he hears his name, he does what any respectful kid would do, he runs straight to Eli. That shows his heart. He is ready to serve, even if he does not understand it all, just yet.
The second time, same thing happened. He runs again. Still obedient. Still teachable.
The third time is when it finally clicks for Eli that this is not just noise in the night. God is calling the boy. In that moment, God wakes up both of them. Samuel learns how to listen for God, and Eli, who had grown dull and faded from years, is stirred again too.
What really stands out to me is that Samuel is sleeping right next to the ark, the symbol of God’s presence, but he still does not recognize God’s voice yet. Did you get that?
You can grow up in church and around church, around holy things, around the Bible, around Christian parents, and still have to learn what God’s voice sounds like. Being close to religion is not the same as really knowing Him.
And that is not all. God is about to pronounce judgment on Eli’s house, yet He still lets Eli be the one to tell Samuel how to answer. That takes humility on Eli’s part. He does not block Samuel. He does not get jealous. He points him straight to God. And for us today, the lesson is pretty plain.
God still speaks through His Word. But we have to train our ears. When truth keeps coming back to us, through Scripture, through conviction, through godly counsel, that is not God being annoying. That is mercy. That is Him knocking again.
Samuel kept jumping up every time he heard his name. He did not have an attitude. He did not curse anyone out. He did not delay. That is the kind of heart God can work with, even a heart that does not yet know Him.
The moment Samuel finally says, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening,” the calling opens up. Thisbto me is God teaching us how to listen in a noisy world.
We need to tune out the world and turn up the volume of the Word of God more. We need to get ready and stay ready. We need to say YES LORD, even before you know what the assignment is.
That is how God will start something big in us.
there's no group in crypto I feel more sorry for than the link marines
5 years of massive underperformance with 0 exit pumps
sergey thanks you for your support
Transparency matters in privacy tech.
40+ accounts suddenly started pushing ZEC in Oct 2024.
Most had ZERO prior coverage.
Same timing. Same talking points. No disclosure...
Pattern recognition isn't conspiracy, it's due diligence.
Public list: https://t.co/4kAfsaEVHM
@zooko Are you suggesting that no matter how much I think you are a CIA agent I can audit the code and see for myself that it is secure that is amazing