“Adonai called, ‘Sh’mu’el!” again, a third time. He got up, went to ‘Eli and said, “Here I am — you called me.’ At last ‘Eli realized it was Adonai calling the child.”-1 Samuel 3:8
Did you notice the Lord called out to Samuel 3 times?
That’s something we shouldn’t overlook…
Because whenever something happens in 3’s in the Bible, it carries special spiritual significance.
Remember Yeshua said Peter would deny him three times…and that’s exactly what happened.
Or how about the angelic creatures in Revelations who continually say….
“‘Holy, holy, holy,
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!’”
-Revelation 4:8
Or how about when Yeshua predicted his resurrection by referring to the prophet Jonah:
“For just as Yonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea-monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the depths of the earth.”-Matthew 12:40
Now here’s something you probably didn’t know.
All cultures in the ancient Middle East associated threefold repetitions with magic or supernatural power…
Not just Israel.
When Samuel came to Eli 3 times, that’s when it probably dawned on Eli that something supernatural was unfolding.
Finally when the Lord called out to Samuel a 4th time, the young boy stood at attention and said “Speak; your servant is listening”.
God then told Samuel…
“Look! I am going to do something
in Israel that will make both ears
of everyone who hears about it tingle.”
God then goes on to explain that in one day He is going to execute furious judgement against Eli and his family for their sins against Him.
Honestly, I’m amazed God was revealing such heavy matters to a young child who I doubt could really grasp the gravity of what was being communicated to him.
This situation reminds me of a father confiding certain private matters to his son.
God not only told Samuel what He was going to do Eli but why He was going to do it.
The Lord went on to explain there was no possible atonement for the wickedness Eli and his family had committed.
Eli should have rebuked his wicked sons Hophni and Pinchas for their horrible behavior…
But he didn’t…
And now in his final years God was going to make Eli pay the price for his negligence.
Indeed, the Lord will make sure we shall reap what we sow.
We’ll continue on with this the next time we meet.
Leave a Reply