The Prophet Samuel: Tender

I Samuel 3:6-7

For us, we live in the unknown. We often stress because we try to control the unknown. We plan, but we do not know what the coming moments will hold, let alone days. Our plans often get messed up. Some people handle this change well, while others can fall apart. Uncertainty is how we think of the future, and we often forget that there is nothing unknown for God. He is never surprised by events or decisions. People's faithfulness or lack thereof does not catch Him off-guard. God said through the Prophet Isaiah, "For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure..." (Isaiah 46:9-10)

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Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)

I Samuel 3:6-7

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I love this story because Samuel is a child, and his heart is tender. He has not yet learned to be lazy like Eli, nor has he learned the wicked ways of Eli's sons. Though Samuel does not yet know the LORD, God knows him. In this story, God is calling Samuel to be a prophet. What a responsibility Samuel would have. Not only did he get his calling to speak for God, but he was also given his first message and it was a tough one.

I remember my first message I preached, and it was bad. It was nothing like what Samuel had to deliver. Samuel was tasked with telling Eli that both he and his sons were going to die because of their sins against God and leading the hearts of the people away from God. I cannot imagine having that responsibility.

God knew that Samuel's heart would always stay tender toward Him. Samuel would be the prophet that would anoint the first two kings of Israel. He would be the final judge of Israel. He would also reprimand King Saul for his rebellion against God. Though he spoke hard messages boldly, he also loved the people and mourned over God’s judgment of Saul. Depending on your view of the story, he possibly even spoke to Saul from the grave. God knew the kind of prophet Samuel would be.

God knows you as well. He is not getting to know you. He knew you before you were born. If He is calling you to do something, it is because He knows that you can do the task in His power. As we saw from the prophet Isaiah, God knows the outcome of the events of our lives . He knows the outcome of the entirety of our lives. We may not know what will happen, but we should trust God because He does.

Father, what an awesome responsibility to be called by You. Give us faith to trust that You know what You are calling us to and that You already know the outcome. You do not ask us to achieve results, but to simply be faithful and leave the results to You.