Samuel

“Hannah, are you sick? You look so sad.”

“No Eli. I am not sick. I am very sad.
I am praying to God.
I want Him to give me a baby.”

Eli was the priest. He told the people what God wanted them to do.
He put his hand on Hannah.
“Go in peace, Hannah.
May God give you your wish.”

Hannah had prayed for a baby.
God was good to her.
She had a baby boy the next year.
“I will call him Samuel, for I asked the Lord for him.”

When Samuel was three years old Hannah called him to her.
“Samuel, I made a promise to God when you were born.
I promised to give you to Him.
I love you my son. I wanted you so much.

So Hannah took Samuel to Eli, the priest.
Samuel lived in the temple with Eli.

One night, Samuel was asleep.
He lay near the dim lamp in the temple.
He woke up. He heard a voice call him.
“Samuel! Samuel!”
Did Eli call? Samuel ran to him.
“Yes Eli, here I am.”

“I didn’t call you, Samuel.
Go back to sleep.”

“Samuel! Samuel!”
Again Samuel ran to Eli.
“No, my boy, I did not call you.
Go back to sleep.”

“Samuel! Samuel!”.
Again Samuel ran to Eli.”
You called me, Eli. Here I am.”

“Samuel, it must be the Lord calling you.
Go back and listen to Him.”
Samuel went back and lay down.
“Samuel! Samuel!”
“Yes, Lord. I’m listening to you.”

“Samuel, Eli does not listen to me.
I will talk to you. Tell the people to do good and right things.
Then I will help your land and your people.”

Samuel listened to God.
All his life he told people what God wanted them to do.