Acting on God’s Word – Eli hears God’s message (1 Sam 3:10-21)

One of the most memorable parables Jesus told was about the sower sowing seed (the Word of God) and what happens to it as it falls on different kinds of soil (the condition of one’s heart – Mk 4:1-9, 13-20). Listening to a sermon, our conscience might be pricked, we have a sense that God is trying to get through to us, but by the time we had coffee and a chat after the service, that sense sometimes evaporates. We can be surprisingly adept at silencing the Holy Spirit’s voice within or letting it be drowned out by the noise of our lives.

Samuel has only just started hearing from God, but he already faces a challenge. Imagine this young boy, who has the obligation to tell Eli, an adult in authority over him, a priest, mentor and father figure, the harsh words of God’s judgment on him. Samuel may have also wondered how Eli would react to such a message from the lips of a mere lad. Will he be angry? Will he punish him? Will he expel him from ministry? No wonder, Samuel is afraid (1 Sam 3:15). Yet, God sets Samuel this task because his calling as a prophet will frequently require him to confront those higher in status (such as a king like Saul), with unpleasant messages. If he cannot do it now, he won’t do it at other times. The Lord, however, is also gracious and smooths the way for Samuel on this first occasion in that Eli wants to hear the message (1 Sam 3:17).

No less than Samuel, we face like challenges. In our morally confused world where black is increasingly painted white, it is ever harder to stand up for biblical truth. Individual Christians may fear looking bigoted, blinkered and judgmental if they speak up in a secular context. Pastors feel the pressure from their congregation members who sometimes mirror the world’s expectations about inclusivity and political correctness. Christian organisations can worry that taking a stand on a contentious issue may alienate some of their supporters. Samuel’s example shows, however, that what matters is not how we feel in the process, but whether we respond with obedience (1 Sam 3:18).

Eli’s reaction is also worth examining more closely. He wants to hear from God, though imagine how humiliating it must have been for him having to depend on his young assistant for God’s Word because the Lord was no longer talking to him directly (once again, we detect the theme of reversal from Hannah’s Song – 1 Sam 2:7-8). He could have been angry with the messenger and seen a rival in him who should be destroyed (Saul’s persecution of David comes to mind as a parallel). God’s messengers can sometimes be unlikely people and it is important that we do not disregard the message because of how we feel about the messenger. Eli’s reaction is humble acquiescence. He sees beyond the youth and inexperience of this boy to the God who speaks.

At the same time, Eli’s reaction strikes me as missing a crucial ingredient. He has already received a similar prophecy from an unnamed man of God in 1 Sam 2:27-36, yet we hear of no response from him then. It is a paradoxical feature of prophecies of judgment that they are meant to elicit repentance, which often leads to the prophecy not being fulfilled at all (think of Jonah’s preaching to Nineveh – Jonah 3:4)! Thus, this second prophecy (1 Sam 3:11-14) is not simply information about the future, but an implicit call to repent. It does not automatically follow that God will change the entire course of events as a result (His hand cannot be forced), but it highlights the importance of putting things right with God irrespective of the consequences that may still follow from earlier sin.[1] Eli accepts God’s judgment but there is no confession or remorse for his own sin. As we examine our hearts, may we act on God’s Word with repentance and obedience.

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[1] David’s repentance after his adultery with Bathsheba comes to mind, which brought forgiveness from God. Nevertheless, his son died and David himself endured hardships for years as a result of his sin (2 Sam 12:7-14).

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