One night, when Samuel was a boy, he heard a voice calling. He
thought
it was the old priest Eli, but Eli said, "I didn't call you; go
back and lie down." Samuel heard the call again, but Eli still said
it wasn't him. When Samuel heard it for the third time, Eli said,
"It must be God. Go back and listen." So Samuel went back, and God
spoke.
But Samuel didn't want to tell Eli what God had said, because God
was very unhappy with Eli's sons.
"Do not hide God's words from me," said Eli. And so Samuel told
Eli, and Eli listened. From then on Samuel always said what God
told him to say.
Samuel continued to serve God. All of Israel knew that Samuel was a
man they could trust to speak God's words. Even when they went
through hard times, Samuel reminded them of God's words. People all
over Israel respected Samuel. And for a while, Israel lived in
peace. Samuel helped them to remember to listen to God.
When Samuel grew old, the people of Israel said they wanted a king.
Samuel felt bad and told God of this, and God said, "They aren't
rejecting you, Samuel. They are rejecting Me." For until then, God
had been their king.
The LORD Helped him
Hannah's faith in God paid off - Samuel frew up to become a famus prophet of the LORD. Alhough it may have been difficult for Hannah to give her son up, she demonstrated great trust that God would take care of Samuel.
Perharps you are a parent who is anxious about your child. It is important to remember that even though a child often ignores a parent's concerns, we still need to ask God to take care of our children. When we are unable to get through to our children, God has ways of communicating with them. God wants to help all of us. We simply need to ask.
Samuel continued to serve God. All of Israel knew that Samuel was a
man they could trust to speak God's words. Even when they went
through hard times, Samuel reminded them of God's words. People all
over Israel respected Samuel. And for a while, Israel lived in
peace. Samuel helped them to remember to listen to God.
H