I’m reading through the Bible in a year, following the M’Cheyene Reading Plan. For what it’s worth, I’m reading from the New Living Translation. Further, I’m reading from the Bible that Sadie threw up on the other night…
Anyway, to the point: From 1 Samuel 3…Eli was a priest in Israel during a time when God didn’t send many messages, and visions from God were “quite uncommon.” God speaks to a boy named Samuel, serving Eli in the Tabernacle. In fact, God calls Samuel’s name three times before Eli realizes that the voice Sammy hears is God.
What’s the message? God is going to punish Eli and his family. Eli’s sons are corrupt priests–they blaspheme God and seduce the young women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Eli is reported to tell the to stop the sinning, but they don’t listen. God pronounces judgment on Eli for not restraining/disciplining his sons.
Wow. Discipline comes from the same root word as disciple. Restrain carries the idea of preventing someone from doing, exhibiting, or expressing something. All of it points to the idea that parents are responsible for training their children to know, follow, and love the Lord, to do the things it takes to become a disciple of the Lord.
Eli failed, and it cost him. His reaction is different than I expected. I imagined that he would be crushed, distraught, very emotional…but he isn’t. He simply says, “It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”
What is that about? I would be begging God for more time, for another chance, for mercy…I wonder what went on in the relationship between Eli and his sons that resulted in failure.
Whatever it was, I don’t want to miss the mark with my own family.
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