Chapter 10: The Boy Who Heard God

The voice did not stop after Samuel answered. God spoke to the boy through the rest of the night. And the first message He gave him was terrible.

THE LORD“I am about to do a thing in Israel at which everyone's ears will tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house. His sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. The iniquity of his house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”— 1 Samuel 3:11-14

The first words God ever spoke to Samuel were a verdict against the man who had raised him. Years before, an anonymous prophet had walked into Eli's chamber and pronounced the very same judgment. That man of God had spoken once and disappeared, but his word had not. Tonight, the Lord Himself was confirming every part of it, and placing it on Samuel's shoulders to carry forward.

Samuel lay in the dark until morning. When dawn came, he rose and opened the doors of the house of the Lord, just as he did every other morning. But on this morning, he was afraid to tell Eli what he had heard. Eli called him over.

ELI“What was it that He told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that He told you.”— 1 Samuel 3:17

Samuel told him everything. He hid nothing.

And Eli, for all his weakness, gave the only answer a man in his position could give.

ELI“It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”— 1 Samuel 3:18

Then Samuel walked out into the morning. From that day on, the Lord was with Samuel, and not one word the boy spoke ever failed to come true. And all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was a prophet of the Lord.