Samuel Hears God Calling

Samuel was a boy who lived at God's special tent with Eli the priest. Eli was very old, and his two sons were priests too, but they were not good men. They didn't respect God.

One night, Samuel was sleeping near the ark of God. Suddenly, he heard someone call, 'Samuel!'

Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli. 'Here I am! You called me!'

But Eli said, 'I didn't call you. Go back to sleep.'

Samuel went back to bed. Then he heard it again: 'Samuel!'

He ran to Eli again. 'Here I am!'

'I didn't call you, my son. Go back to sleep,' Eli said.

This happened THREE times! The third time, Eli realized something amazing. 'It's GOD calling you!' Eli told Samuel. 'Next time, say: "Speak, Lord, I'm listening."'

Samuel lay back down. Then God called again: 'Samuel! Samuel!'

This time Samuel said, 'Speak, Lord. I'm listening!'

God gave Samuel an important message. It was a sad message about Eli's family. Eli's sons were doing bad things, and Eli didn't stop them. God said there would be consequences.

In the morning, Samuel was scared to tell Eli. But Eli made him tell. When Samuel told him everything, Eli said, 'He is the Lord. Let him do what is right.'

From that night on, God kept talking to Samuel! As Samuel grew up, everyone in Israel knew that God spoke through him. Samuel became a great prophet!

Samuel learned something very important that night: we need to LISTEN when God speaks. When we're quiet and ready to hear, God can tell us important things.

God still speaks to us today—through the Bible, through prayer, and through wise people. We just need to listen, like Samuel did!