The Bible Course Muestra

Samuel, the Voice, and the Vision – hear the word of the LORD 

Reflect  

Leaders influence. Leaders change things. In the world of sport or business, the right leader can turn the tide for organizations. 

The final verse of Judges highlights the desperate need for leadership in Israel: 

‘In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.’ 

To turn the tide God needed to appoint the right leader.  

Enter Samuel.  

What does Samuel do when God speaks?  

Ministering under the priest Eli, Samuel learns to hear the word of the Lord. During those days, the Bible records the word of the Lord is rare. There’s no wonder that Samuel fails to see what’s going on at first!  

Eli instructs Samuel to respond to the voice by saying, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ Here Samuel learns the practice of listening to the voice of God; this will go on to shape his life and leadership. If he was to lead with integrity and renew Israel as a nation, he’d need the voice of God directing and strengthening him.  

God was calling Samuel to a giant-sized task. He was calling him to be the servant priest of Israel, a faithful prophet of God, and judge for the people. He was to be the new leader that would turn the tide for Israel.  

What can we learn from Samuel’s example today?  

Samuel had real spiritual authority because he’d learned to listen to the voice of God. Have we learned to do the same today? We have grown accustomed to leaders without integrity. But God wants to raise leaders who are not like anything in this world. He wants leaders who turn the tide, who are not shaped by the world but shape the world around them!  

Do we have lives and rhythms that are set to ‘hear the word of the LORD?’  

Samuel finishes by sharing words from God to Eli. How does his example apply to us today?  

Samuel first listened. Then he spoke, faithfully, hiding nothing from Eli despite the word being tough to bear (verse 18). In a world that desperately needs to hear the word of the Lord, have we chosen to hide out of fear? Let’s rediscover true integrity by first listening and then speaking truth with love.   

Respond  

Hearing the voice of God starts with us stopping and listening. Take five minutes out today to be still and silent.