Recognising The Voice Of God

This week we have been focusing on the practical side of hearing the voice of God in our lives! Yesterday, we learnt the difference between hearing and listening. Most of the time, we fail to recognise the voice of God. We get lost in the noise of life that we don’t give an ear to God’s voice. 

Let us read through 1 Samuel 3:1-10;
The Lord Calls Samuel
(1) The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
(2) One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. (3) The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. (4) Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.” (5) And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
(6) Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”
(7) Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
(8) A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. (9) So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
(10) The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

In the book of Samuel, we read about a sad woman, Hannah, who was living in a time where husbands often have 2 or 3 wives. Hannah, unlike the other wives, had no children. More than not having children, Hannah was often tormented by the second wife and was left with a defeated mind. Hannah prayed in desperation for a boy child and even promised the child to God if He granted her request. All she wanted was for her shame to be taken away. In chapter 2, we see that God granted her request and Hannah has a baby boy, whom she names Samuel. In chapter 3, we read how Samuel started his ministry under Eli, the priest. A very important thing to note is that Hannah kept her word to God and gave Samuel for ministry purposes. She did not keep him away from his ministry and say that she will give her second child but she saw through it. 

Samuel is a perfect example of not living life like others. When his own brothers were giving into the sins of their flesh, Samuel lived his life dedicated to God and to his calling. He never strayed from his path. He realised the importance of the dedication and promise that his mother had with God. 

We need to have a recognition of the call of God in our lives and consciously live accordingly!