Samuel learns to recognise God’s voice
Samuel was still young when he began serving in the house of God under the care of an older priest named Eli.
One night, Samuel heard someone call his name. He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am,” but Eli had not called him. This happened three times.
Eli then understood that God was calling Samuel. He told him that, if the voice came again, he should answer, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
When God called again, Samuel responded. He had not recognised God’s voice at first, but he learned to listen and respond. This became the beginning of a life in which he knew God, trusted him and followed his guidance.
Christians believe that this story shows that knowing God is something we can learn and grow into. We may not recognise his presence immediately, and we may need prayer, patience and help from other believers.
God may not call us in the same way that he called Samuel, but Christians believe that he still makes himself known and guides people today. We can learn to recognise his guidance through prayer, reading the Bible, reflecting on the teaching of Jesus, remaining open to the Holy Spirit and worshipping with other Christians. As we respond to him, our relationship with God can deepen.
Would you like to explore this question in another way?
Choose a different way to explore this