Recognizing The Voice of God
The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.... Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 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.
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.”
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
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. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, “Speak , LORD, for your servant is listening.”...The LORD came and stood there, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
But Eli said, “I did not call, go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
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.”
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
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. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, “Speak , LORD, for your servant is listening.”...The LORD came and stood there, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
What an incredible scene! The young boy Samuel hearing the very voice of God and mistaking it three times for the voice of a man. This was in spite of the fact that he was sleeping in the Temple of God right where the ark of God was. The ark signified the very presence of God.
So, Samuel was in the presence of God but he did not recognize the voice of God!
Why was that the case? Because “Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.”
After Eli taught him to recognize the voice of God, “The LORD came...calling as at other times...then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening” and God started speaking to him.
Could it be that we fail to recognize the very voice of God because our focus is on something else? Could it be that we mistake the voice of God for that of a man? Are there times when we have totally missed hearing God because we have no true revelation of who He is through His word? May the word of the LORD be so richly revealed to us that we will immediately recognize when He speaks. As we spend time in His presence, let’s get to know Him through His revealed word - the Scriptures. That is the greatest revelation of God. That is the surest way God has spoken; and that is the surest way to distinguish the voice of God from that of a man.
So, Samuel was in the presence of God but he did not recognize the voice of God!
Why was that the case? Because “Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.”
After Eli taught him to recognize the voice of God, “The LORD came...calling as at other times...then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening” and God started speaking to him.
Could it be that we fail to recognize the very voice of God because our focus is on something else? Could it be that we mistake the voice of God for that of a man? Are there times when we have totally missed hearing God because we have no true revelation of who He is through His word? May the word of the LORD be so richly revealed to us that we will immediately recognize when He speaks. As we spend time in His presence, let’s get to know Him through His revealed word - the Scriptures. That is the greatest revelation of God. That is the surest way God has spoken; and that is the surest way to distinguish the voice of God from that of a man.
PRAYER:
Prayer: LORD, I desire to recognize your voice at all times. Help me to spend time in your word so that I will reject any voice that is contrary to your true voice. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Prayer: LORD, I desire to recognize your voice at all times. Help me to spend time in your word so that I will reject any voice that is contrary to your true voice. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.