Those were the words Samuel the prophet and judge said to Israel when they demanded a king. Samuel, in his old age, had made his two sons judges, but they did not follow their father’s example. They turned away from God.

God told Samuel to tell the people what their earthly king would do to them and their children. Still, they wanted to be like the pagan nations around them and depend on an earthly king and his armies. They were rejecting God as their only king.

God knew a day would come when the people would be fed up with their king and would turn to Him for help. He told them their cries would fall on deaf ears.

In addition to saying “yes, no or wait”, God can simply refuse to hear one’s prayers. Psalm 61:18 says “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

Sin is a roadblock between us and God. He has made a way to remove that barrier, through His son Jesus Christ, but we must confess and turn away from it. Prayer is not a magic lamp we rub to get whatever we want, when we want. We serve a holy, righteous God. His ways are higher than ours and He knows what we need in order to become more like Christ.

Observation: What seems the easiest way to deal with a situation as a parent, may lead to death for both us and our children.

Application: Eli and his sons, Hophni and Phinhas, had grown fat and sluggish, both physically and spiritually. Eli’s sons were consuming the meat which belonged to God. Somehow, because their family had been chosen to serve in this way, they began thinking it was about them. They also commited adultery with women who came to worship.
The Lord sent someone to tell Eli that he and his family would be judged.

When the Lord called the boy Samuel, the first thing He spoke to him about, was this judgement. Samuel was afraid, but Eli insisted on hearing the truth.

Eli confronted his sons, but that was it. There was no follow through, no consequences

So, Eli was told, over and over, that his family would be cut off, and yet he didn’t act. Why?

When I as a parent, take the “easy” way, and let my children do whatever, I’m putting them before my God who says that as our Father, He disciplines us. We should follow His example, and do the same.

Yes, I make mistakes and raising children requires consistancy. This can be so difficult at the end of the day when we’re tired and just want to rest. Or perhaps it’s just easier to do that chore instead of following through on consequences with a child who is disobedient. Or perhaps we’re embarrassed. What would my christian friends think if they knew my child’s behavior?

A better question is–WHAT DOES GOD THINK?

Another question is–What will happen if I don’t raise my family in the fear and admonition of the Lord? The scriptures are clear, a way that seems right to man leads to death and destruction.

Either way, being a parent is hard, but God’s way leads to life, love and liberty to serve Him. Choose life!

Observation: How encouraging to know that God hears the cry of the broken.

Application:
Hannah’s husband loved her, but she had not conceived any children. The other wife, Penninnah enjoyed reminding Hannah that she was childless. As a devout believer, Hannah turned to the Lord in prayer and poured out her heart. She asked the Lord to give her a child, and she in turn would give him back to God.

Hannah kept her promise to dedicate little Samuel to the Lord’s service. Then He continued to bless her with more children. Hannah gave the Lord one child, and He blessed her with five more. Every year, should would make a little robe for Samuel and take it to him when they went to offer sacrifices.

How it must have hurt to see her son there and have to leave him. How much more must it have hurt God to see His only son suffer and die for our sins? But this was His plan to reconcile us to Himself. When we confess our need as sinners, He hears our cry and saves us.

The Israelites did not remember the Lord their God who had delivered them from the power of the enemies around them.

Observation: How quickly and easily we forget who created, saved and sustains us.

Application: The Lord had delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians, given them the promised land and most recently, delivered them from the Midianites when he raised up Gideon as a leader. Upon Gideon’s death, the people turned away from God.

Too often, we forget and walk in our own way as well. The Lord gives us life and breath, salvation, love, grace and mercy. He blesses our homes and families, but we want to give credit to anyone or anything but Him.

Lord, help us remember and be faithful to you.

Observation: Befriending the world can lead us away from worshiping the one true God.

Application: The scriptures admonish us to be in the world, but not of it. The more comfortable we become with the ways of the world, the easier it becomes to neglect the Christian disciplines–Bible study, prayer, fellowship and worship. Our flesh will always come up with excuses to neglect these disciplines. If we fall down, we must get up and continue our journey. We must continually choose to follow God, asking Him for strength when we are weak.

Application: God promised a land to His people and told Moses to send twelve spies into the land. Ten came back saying the people there were too many and too big for them to defeat. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, trusted in God and told them to take the land.

The ten spies assessed the situation in the natural, not trusting God’s promise. Their report was motivated by fear and caused all of God’s people to respond in fear. Not only did they disagree with Joshua and Moses, complaining that he should have left them in Egypt, but they wanted to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb.

Once again ( a familiar theme in this story), God wanted to destroy the people for their rebellion, but Moses interceded and God relented. He spared them, but said they would NOT enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb, who held fast to the promise would enter the land.

When God tells us in His word to do things which make us uncomfortable, it takes courage to claim His promises and step out in faith. The Bible is very practical and tells us how to relate to others, both brothers and sisters in Christ and enemies. If we can’t follow God’s plan within the church, how can we expect to follow it when relating to the world?

Not bringing to the light, things that are done in the dark only gives them more power. Oh they eventually will be brought to the light, but how much better if we could put aside our fears of “what if” and obey the Lord, speaking the truth in love.

Observation: As each part of Christ’s body of believers moves straight ahead, doing the part God has given him, God’s purposes will be accomplished.

Application: The walled city of Jericho. God had promised it to His people. Those within it’s walls lived in fear, having heard what God was doing to His enemies. Only one person, Rahab, a prostitute, responded by helping the spies Joshua had sent. Matthew 1:5 includes Rahab in the geneology of Jesus. God allowed her not only to participate in the victory of His people in her lifetime, but also their salvation throughout all time.

Observation: Our intercession in prayer, for others, may spare them total destruction when God answers.

Application:Moses went up on Mt. Sinai at God’s bidding. The Israelites seemed to panic when Moses delayed his return. They turned to Aaron and asked for a golden calf to worship. Instead of leading the people back to God, Aaron made the golden calf. When God said He would destroy them, Moses interceded and God relented.

I should pray for people, family, friends and even strangers who turn away from God.

Observation: The very thing God uses to save His chosen people, He may use to destroy their enemies.

Application: Miriam, the prophetess, lead the women in praising God for destroying the Egyptians in the Red Sea. The same Red Sea the Israelites had walked through on dry ground. Before God intervened, they were trapped between the Egyptians and the Red Sea.

What I see as an obstacle, God may use to deliver me. When He does, I will praise Him as Miriam did, with a grateful heart.

Observation: When God begins to work, things may get worse before they get better.

Application: When Moses told Pharaoh to let the people go, as God had instructed, Pharaoh’s response was to make their work harder by taking away the straw (for bricks). The people complained to Moses, who in turn went to the Lord. He asked why the Lord hadn’t delivered the, and Exodus 6:1 was His response.

In my human frailty, I will be tempted to question why God doesn’t anwer my cry in the timing and ways I want, but He has a plan so much bigger and better than mine.