Day 74, or March the 15th. Here am I, but choose
him if you want. Our thoughts today are from
1 Samuel 3, verse 9. So Eli told Samuel, Go and
lie down, and if he calls you, say, Speak, Lord,
for your servant is listening. So Samuel went
and lay down in his place. First, the big picture
surrounding this verse. Today we are looking
at another child who is dedicated to God as a
Nazarite by his parents. His name is Samuel.
Eli is the priest together with his worthless
sons, and baby Samuel is given to him to raise.
A call comes to Samuel from God whilst he's still
a child, but he thinks it's from Eli. At Eli's
instruction, he responds to the call by offering
himself to do whatever God wants. In their ongoing
war, the Ark of the Covenant is taken into battle
against the Philistines and captured by them.
In the battle, both sons of Eli are killed, and
the shocking news results in Eli's death. This
leaves Samuel as the leader of a nation which
has just lost its symbol of God's presence. The
ark. And Philistines are still a powerful enemy,
right on their doorstep. And now, our action
step for today. By rights, the call of God should
have come to Eli, but it came to Samuel. At least,
that's how it appears on first reading. Eli must
have felt hurt, but it never showed. Do you sometimes
feel cheated when someone else is called instead
of you? I have to admit I have felt overlooked
on occasions. I think we all have. I remember
the first time I stood as a deacon and being
genuinely afraid of not being elected. I have
wondered many times since how I would have reacted
if the vote had not gone my way. Check your attitude
now. Use a hypothetical example using someone
who is not your best friend at church. Could
you take God choosing them instead of you? Why
not ask God to prepare you now just in case it
ever happens to you? If it's happened already,
ask God to help you cope with humility and dignity
to the glory of Jesus.