Samuel Hears God’s Voice

Come and meet a little boy named Samuel, who heard God call his very own name one quiet night. Come and see how he learned to listen, and how God loved him and knew him by name.

Long ago, a little boy named Samuel lived and helped in God’s house at Shiloh, the special place where everyone came to pray. He helped a kind old priest named Eli with all the gentle work, day after day. Samuel swept the floors, tidied things up, and helped keep the holy lamp glowing with a soft, golden light. He loved God with all his little heart, and he was so glad to help.

One quiet night, when the stars were twinkling and everyone was fast asleep, Samuel lay down on his cozy bed. The lamp still glowed softly in God’s house, warm and golden in the dark. Then, all of a sudden, Samuel heard a gentle voice call his name. “Samuel! Samuel!” it said, soft and kind. He sat up and listened closely, wondering who could be calling him.

Samuel hopped up and pattered over to Eli’s room. “Here I am! You called me,” he said. But Eli shook his head kindly. “I did not call you, little one. Go back and lie down.” So Samuel went back to bed — but the voice called again, “Samuel!” He ran to Eli a second time, and then a third time, yet each time Eli said softly, “I did not call you. Go and rest.”

Then wise old Eli understood something wonderful. It was God Himself who was calling little Samuel’s name! Eli smiled gently and said, “Go and lie down, and if the voice comes again, you say, ‘Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back and lay down in the quiet dark. And the voice came once more, “Samuel! Samuel!” “Speak, Lord,” said Samuel, “Your servant is listening.”

From that night on, Samuel listened closely whenever God spoke, with his whole heart open and ready. He grew bigger and taller, year after year, and he never stopped listening to God. All his life long, Samuel loved God and served Him faithfully. And God, who knew Samuel by name, was always near him — just as God knows your name and loves you too.

Thank You, God, for knowing my name and loving me just the way I am. Help me to listen to You with my whole heart, like little Samuel did.