As a boy serving in the house of the Lord, Samuel received a startling vision. His mentor and chief priest, Eli, coaxed the revelation from the unwilling Samuel. The reason for Samuel’s hesitancy? The Lord promised to punish Eli’s family, whose sons blasphemed God in their role as priests and Eli failed to discipline them.

Eli responded, He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.

All options exhausted, Eli took comfort in the impending judgement. After years of failing to restrain his sons, either from lack of power, or more likely lack of will, Eli knew the situation must change. He also realized the future of Israel lay not within his family lineage, but with the boy who stood trembling before him.

Faith in God comes in various flavors. Joyous faith, desperate faith, a calming faith and faith that pushes us out of our comfort zone. In this situation, Eli voiced relief that the Lord stood ready to set things right, even if it meant judgement on his house.

The Lord remains present in our moments of withdrawal or acquiescence. It’s good to give in to the plans God has for us, even if they involve his discipline. Eli’s words turn into a prayer appropriate for every situation we face:

Lord, I rest in you. Do what is good in your eyes.

1 Samuel 3 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Marco Bianchetti