Lenten Devotions - Day 17
“Yahweh then stood beside Samuel and called out as he had done before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ ‘I’m listening,’ Samuel answered. ‘What do you want me to do?’” 1 Samuel 3:10
Samuel was not expecting God to speak. Sure, he was going through the motions of sleeping before the altar to incubate a word from Yahweh, but that did not really mean he expected an answer to his actions. It was customary to offer sacrifices and sleep before the altar of a god to attempt to force some kind of answer. Samuel just did not seem to expect much in the way of results. It is no wonder he expected little, as the passage opens by telling us that God's word was rare in those days.
Samuel made his bed before the altar and lay down to sleep in God's presence. He did not know what to expect, but he went through the motions of pressing for a word from Yahweh. After Yahweh called him the third time, he was told by Eli to expect it to be God talking to him. He was to answer with the attitude of one ready to hear and obey. Yahweh did call again. This time, Samuel answered expectantly. The message was not one he had been seeking. He found himself caught off guard. He was exposed. Only a child, he was unprepared for God to speak directly to him and require his services.
On some level, this was what Samuel was longing to happen. On another level, it was something for which he was unprepared. He wanted to gain God's ear. He wanted God's attention, but he still wanted his distance. Samuel wanted to play at knowing God. He wanted to toy with the idea of being God's prophet and spokesman. He wasn't ready to make this a habit and daily occurrence. It was great to nab God's ear, just as long as he might also turn God's attention away when he was through playing.
When we interact with God, however, we must do it on God's terms, not our own. Samuel was not in control of the situation. Oh, incubating a dream or vision was supposed to give him control, but there is a difference between pagan rituals intended to grant one control over the gods and playing with Yahweh, the Almighty. He may respond to the ritual, but not on our terms. He is still God, regardless of the games we might play.
Samuel began a new phase of life that night. From servant to the priest of Yahweh, he became the prophet in training. God took him beyond his childish dreams and expectations and ushered him into a new life of service and living in the presence of the Almighty. From incubating a dream according to pagan traditions and rituals, he became the vehicle for God's word to the people of Israel. He had known that God was real. He knew that Yahweh had answered his mother's prayer, granting him life. He knew he had been dedicated to serve before Yahweh. He had just not counted on that becoming reality beyond life as he had experienced it with Eli.
Are we guilty of playing games with God? In speaking of God, do we expect our lives to be interrupted by the presence of the Almighty?
As you pray for direction and guidance, expect God to respond. There is plenty you already know to be God’s will—love, mercy, justice, forgiveness, grace. Focus on those things as you as God to guide your steps and be present in your life.
“Lord, make me more aware of you and the games I tend to play. Grant me the courage to truly seek your face and allow Christ to shine through me.”
—©Copyright 2009 Christopher B. Harbin http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/
Samuel was not expecting God to speak. Sure, he was going through the motions of sleeping before the altar to incubate a word from Yahweh, but that did not really mean he expected an answer to his actions. It was customary to offer sacrifices and sleep before the altar of a god to attempt to force some kind of answer. Samuel just did not seem to expect much in the way of results. It is no wonder he expected little, as the passage opens by telling us that God's word was rare in those days.
Samuel made his bed before the altar and lay down to sleep in God's presence. He did not know what to expect, but he went through the motions of pressing for a word from Yahweh. After Yahweh called him the third time, he was told by Eli to expect it to be God talking to him. He was to answer with the attitude of one ready to hear and obey. Yahweh did call again. This time, Samuel answered expectantly. The message was not one he had been seeking. He found himself caught off guard. He was exposed. Only a child, he was unprepared for God to speak directly to him and require his services.
On some level, this was what Samuel was longing to happen. On another level, it was something for which he was unprepared. He wanted to gain God's ear. He wanted God's attention, but he still wanted his distance. Samuel wanted to play at knowing God. He wanted to toy with the idea of being God's prophet and spokesman. He wasn't ready to make this a habit and daily occurrence. It was great to nab God's ear, just as long as he might also turn God's attention away when he was through playing.
When we interact with God, however, we must do it on God's terms, not our own. Samuel was not in control of the situation. Oh, incubating a dream or vision was supposed to give him control, but there is a difference between pagan rituals intended to grant one control over the gods and playing with Yahweh, the Almighty. He may respond to the ritual, but not on our terms. He is still God, regardless of the games we might play.
Samuel began a new phase of life that night. From servant to the priest of Yahweh, he became the prophet in training. God took him beyond his childish dreams and expectations and ushered him into a new life of service and living in the presence of the Almighty. From incubating a dream according to pagan traditions and rituals, he became the vehicle for God's word to the people of Israel. He had known that God was real. He knew that Yahweh had answered his mother's prayer, granting him life. He knew he had been dedicated to serve before Yahweh. He had just not counted on that becoming reality beyond life as he had experienced it with Eli.
Are we guilty of playing games with God? In speaking of God, do we expect our lives to be interrupted by the presence of the Almighty?
As you pray for direction and guidance, expect God to respond. There is plenty you already know to be God’s will—love, mercy, justice, forgiveness, grace. Focus on those things as you as God to guide your steps and be present in your life.
“Lord, make me more aware of you and the games I tend to play. Grant me the courage to truly seek your face and allow Christ to shine through me.”
—©Copyright 2009 Christopher B. Harbin http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/
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