Samuel Hears God

Samuel was the only little boy in all of Israel who lived in God's house.

Every morning he swept the courtyard. The broom was taller than he was. SWISH, SWISH.

Old Eli the priest could hardly see anymore. So Samuel held his hand and was his eyes.

Eli told the best stories. Moses and the burning bush. The voice of God, calling out of the fire!

'Does God still talk to people?' Samuel asked.

Eli sighed. 'Not much, these days. Not for a very long time.'

Samuel looked up at the big sky. He wished God would talk to him. Just once.

Every evening, Samuel filled the golden lamp with oil. It had to burn all night long.

After dark, the lamp was the only light in God's house. Behind the big curtain was the ark of God.

He smoothed his little blue robe. His mother sewed him a new one every year and carried it all the way to Shiloh.

Then he lay down by the lamp, pulled up his blanket, and closed his eyes.

'Samuel!' His eyes popped open. Someone had called his name.

He sat up and looked around. Nobody. Just the lamp, flickering.

It must be Eli! Samuel jumped up and ran.

'Here I am!' he said. 'You called me!'

Eli opened one sleepy eye. 'I didn't call you. Go back to bed.'

Samuel walked back slowly. That was strange.

He lay down and listened. Crickets. The lamp. Nothing.

'Samuel!' There it was again!

SLAP, SLAP, SLAP went his bare feet across the cold stones.

'Here I am! You DID call me!'

Eli rubbed his eyes. 'My son, I did not call. Lie down.'

Samuel flopped onto his mat. Was he dreaming? Was the lamp talking?

'Samuel!' A third time. This time, he was sure.

He ran so fast his robe flapped like a flag.

'Here I am. You called me. I KNOW you did!'

Eli sat very still. Then his tired old eyes grew wide.

'Samuel,' he whispered. 'It is not me calling you. It is God.'

'Me?' Samuel whispered. 'God is calling ME?'

'If he calls again, say this: Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.'

'Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.' Samuel practiced it all the way back.

He lay down. His eyes stayed wide open. THUMP, THUMP went his heart.

Then the whole room grew very, very still.

'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel answered in a small voice: 'Speak. Your servant is listening.'

And God spoke to Samuel. He told him big, heavy things about Eli's family, and what was going to happen.

Samuel did not sleep again that night. He lay very still until morning.

In the morning, he opened the doors of God's house, just like always.

He did not want to see Eli. God's message was not good news for Eli.

'Samuel, my son.' Samuel froze. 'Here I am.'

'What did God tell you? Don't hide anything from me.'

Samuel twisted his robe. Telling the truth was hard. Really hard.

But he told Eli everything. Every single word.

'He is the Lord,' Eli said softly. 'He will do what is right. And you were brave to tell me.'

Then someone came up the hill carrying a folded blue robe. Samuel knew exactly who it was.

'Mama!' She held the new robe up against him and laughed. 'Look how you've grown!'

Samuel whispered in her ear. 'Mama... God talked to me.'

Samuel grew. God kept speaking to him. Soon everyone in Israel knew it: God speaks to Samuel.

But every single night, he still lay down by the golden lamp...

...and whispered, 'Speak, Lord. I'm listening.'

You can whisper it too, tonight. God still knows your name.