Are you listening?

March 27, 2007

By Greg Ebie

Have you ever been awakened suddenly in the middle of the night? You may have had a dream that seemed so real your heart was racing. You might have heard a sudden noise or thought you heard your children call out in the night. I’ve had times when I woke up and actually got up and looked around the house to make sure everything, and more importantly everyone, was OK.

The boy Samuel was serving in the temple when one night he was awakened by a voice calling his name. He got up and rushed to his master, Eli the priest. Eli was fast asleep when Samuel rushed in saying, “I heard you call me; here I am.” Eli sent Samuel back to bed. Then it happened again; Samuel rushed to Eli’s bed and again Eli sent Samuel back to bed saying, “I didn’t call you; go back to sleep.”

“God called again, ‘Samuel!’ — the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, ‘Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.’ ”

“That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, ‘Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, “Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.” ’ Samuel returned to his bed” (1 Samuel 3:8,9, The Message).

Because the Word of God was so seldom heard in those days, Eli had to be awakened three times before he realized what was happening. That’s when Eli instructed Samuel how to respond when he heard the voice of the Lord.

I can only begin to imagine the feelings Samuel had as he returned the third time to his bed. He was certain he had heard his name called. Could it really have been the voice of God calling to him? Would God call Samuel again? I don’t think Samuel got back in bed and tried to go back to sleep; I can imagine him waiting expectantly for God to call his name again.

What about us? Do we have that kind of expectancy to hear God speak to us? What is the level of our faith? Are we listening for God or are we going through our days and nights without ever tuning our ear toward heaven? As parents and grandparents have we taught our children how to listen to the voice of God, or will they not recognize the Lord when He comes to speak to them?

Why not take a lesson from Samuel? Pause right now and say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is ready to listen.” You may be surprised by what God has to say to you.

D. Greg Ebie is senior pastor of Praise Assembly of God in Garrettsville, Ohio, and an author of Daily Bread devotionals.