1 Samuel 3
Our God is not far away or silent. He speaks to us, but how can we hear him?
This is the story of the first time the Prophet Samuel heard the voice of the Lord. He was young, but that didn’t stop him from seeking to serve God. As you read this story, pay attention to where Samuel was when he heard God’s voice.
There once was a boy named Samuel. When he was still very young his mother gave him to a high priest named Eli so that he could serve the Lord. Eli was old and nearly blind. He needed Samuel’s help for many things.
At the end of a long day of work, Samuel was sleeping in the temple when he heard a voice calling to him, “Samuel! Samuel!”
“Here I am,” he said. He got up and ran to his master, Eli. “Here I am, for you called me.”
But Eli was confused. “I did not call for you. Lie down again.”
So Samuel went back to sleep. Then he heard the voice again say, “Samuel!”
He got up quickly and ran back to his master again. “Here I am, for you called me.”
Eli said, “I did not call you. Go lie down again and get some sleep.”
Then he heard the voice a third time and came running to his master once more.
This time Eli realized what was happening. “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.'”
Samuel was in disbelief. Seeing or hearing God’s voice was very uncommon. Yet, he wanted to serve his master well. He went back to lie down.
“Samuel! Samuel!” said the voice of the Lord.
“Speak, for your servant is listening,” the boy said in reply. Then the Lord spoke to young Samuel for the first time. It was the first of many times that the Lord God spoke to Samuel. Each time Samuel listened and sought to follow the Lord’s instructions.
Download and Print this Story & Discussion Questions
You can read this story to your kids online or download a PDF printout along with discussion questions here:
