Hearing From God

“And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, ‘Samuel, Samuel’. Then Samuel answered, ‘Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth’.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

Some people yearn to hear from God but say they don’t. Why is that? To hear from God, you must be prepared to listen and receive His message.

Eli served as Israel’s high priest, a lifelong appointed position, delivering God’s messages to the people. But God told Eli he would judge his house, and no sacrifice could purge the iniquity of his family (v. 14). Eli had failed in his parental duty to discipline his evil sons (who would take his place one day). Under the priest’s care and serving as his attendant, the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. On three occasions, Samuel heard his name called during the night and, thinking it was Eli, went to his side, each time asking what he wanted. Eli realized the Lord was speaking to the child (not him) and instructed Samuel on what to say. When God called his name again, Samuel, in obedience to Eli’s instructions, replied, “Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” Samuel, now positioned to hear from God, received and obediently delivered the message as God instructed (vs. 15–18).

God said if we love Him, we will keep His commands. Because we sometimes fail in that respect, it is often more comfortable and convenient to hear from God’s servants than Him. There is nothing wrong with following instructions from those who teach and proclaim God’s truths, but those messages are easier to put on hold, ignore, or dismiss without a second thought or regret. If you depend only on hearing from others, you are side-stepping, even avoiding God. Once we know God has directly spoken to us, we make one of three decisions: Obediently follow His instructions or give God our pitiful excuses of why we can not—will not—obey Him, or we ignore His voice.

Are you positioned to hear from God? Is your heart clean and unencumbered like that of a child before Him? Is your readiness to hear God speak without any preconceived plans of your own? God longs to commune with His children, but conversation involves both parties speaking with one another. All too often, we do all the talking without waiting for God to speak. Are you ready to be still before God—to hear and receive from Him? Are you prepared to obey?