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We Are All Called
“Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’
And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’”
1 Samuel 3:10
Admittedly, at times, all of us have trouble listening. When my husband is watching the Aggies play football, I don’t even try to talk to him about something important because I know whatever I say will be met with the response “uh huh.” I usually walk away in exasperation mumbling how he never listens.
But, when God speaks, do we listen to Him? In 1 Samuel, we witness the powerful benefit of listening. Eli, the priest, is ending his career as a national figure in Israel. An old way of life is coming to an end; Israel has been without guidance for a long time and has done much evil in the sight of God. Now, Eli must relinquish his position to God’s greater plan and good. He is obedient and knows that doing God’s will often means giving up or laying down something we want to grasp or control. Although often difficult, discerning needed change for the better is dependent on listening to God. It is about accepting His guidance on life’s journey.
Eli is perceptive enough to recognize that God was issuing a call to Samuel. He gives young Samuel specific instructions on how he should respond if he hears the voice calling him again. He instructs the young boy Samuel to change from a reply of identification – “Here I am” – to one of supplication – “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel makes himself available to be used by God for His greater purpose and glory. His story begs the question: “Does God still speak to us today?” Yes. God speaks to us through His Word, the Church, our friends, the Holy Spirit or maybe in a way we never expect – perhaps a stranger we encounter or someone from long ago with whom we reconnect; you never know.
We must make ourselves, like Samuel, available to God. Our response must be the response of Samuel: “Speak, for your servant is listening.” As we make ourselves available to God, we move from passivity to action. In doing so, we honor God, for God is not passive.
It is good for us to pause at times and ask God, “Do you have anything for me to do?” Then, we must listen for God to speak, and we must be available. If God does not speak to us as we have requested, we must then do what seems to be wisest, which is sometimes to wait patiently, to pray or to share with others in our community of Christ. The main thing is always to be available. Much like an old Gospel hymn with the line, “I will be somewhere listening for my name,”1 Samuel was available to God. Are you and I?
1 “I’ll Be Somewhere, Listening” by Eduardo J. Lango Copyright, 1937 by The Stamps Baxter Music Co.
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