The Story of Samuel Hearing God’s Voice, Part 2 (1 Samuel 1-3)

I asked yesterday, “Do you think Samuel really heard God’s voice speaking to him?” Yes, he did, and here’s how it happened. It is believed Samuel was about twelve years old, and one night Samuel heard someone calling his name. He got up and went to Eli, the priest, and said “Here am I for you called me.” Eli told him to go back to bed because he did not call him. Samuel went back to bed, but again he heard a voice calling, “Samuel.” He got up and went to Eli again and said, “Here am I for you did call me.” Eli said to him, “I called not, my son; lie down again.” Samuel went back to bed, and God called out his name a third time. He went to Eli and said again, “Here am I for you did call me.” That’s when Eli realized it was God himself calling Samuel’s name. Eli told Samuel to lie down, but this time he told him what to say if he heard his name being called again. Well, God did call out again, “Samuel, Samuel.” This time Samuel answered, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth,” Then God had a long talk with young Samuel and told him things that would happen to Eli’s family and the nation of Israel. There were many times after this that God revealed himself to Samuel. The Bible says that “Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.” He became a prophet and a priest, and the last of the judges of the people of Israel. Do you think God can still speak to boys and girls in our day? You probably will not hear a voice like Samuel because God speaks in our day mostly through Jesus and the Bible. If you believe in Jesus, and if you listen closely, I believe you will know in your heart that God loves you for he does love you very much.