In 1 Samuel 3, God calls to a young Samuel in the middle of the night. Samuel thinks it’s Eli calling for him until Eli realizes what’s happening and tells Samuel how to respond. It’s a simple story on the surface, but it marks the beginning of Samuel’s ministry and a turning point for Israel.
Board games are a major part of my family’s culture. Almost every weekend, we pick something from our ever-growing collection and spend an afternoon playing together.
I’ve learned that playing games with me is an odd mix of being corrected and being helped.
That’s because I’m a stickler for the rules. One of my favorite parts of getting a new game is reading the rule book cover to cover. (Yes, I know that’s weird. I’ve been told.) During the game, I’ll absolutely point out an illegal move. But I’ll also tell you if you’ve accidentally shortchanged yourself on points.
This story is a little like that. It’s about a God who is patient with people as they learn, but unwilling to ignore injustice. Whether this is your first time reading 1 Samuel or you’ve heard this story for years, we’ll unpack what happened, answer big questions, and find out why this simple story has been captivating people for thousands of years.
Where Is the Story of God Speaking to Samuel in the Bible?
The story of God speaking to Samuel is found in 1 Samuel 3.
Summary of the Story of Samuel
- Samuel is serving God in the temple under Eli, the high priest.
- While Samuel is sleeping, God calls out to him.
- Samuel mistakes God’s voice for Eli’s and goes to see what Eli needs.
- After the third time Samuel mistakes God’s voice, Eli tells Samuel that if he hears the voice again to respond with “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
- God calls out to Samuel again.
- Samuel responds the way Eli told him to, and God gives Samuel a message.
- Samuel tells Eli what God said.
A Deeper Dive Into the Story of Samuel
The Lord had gone quiet.
This story is rich with allusions to the spiritual state of ancient Israel. Eli’s physical blindness mimics Israel’s spiritual blindness during this time period. But we’re told plainly that “... In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.” (1 Samuel 3:1).
This can be interpreted a couple of different ways. It could be that God had stopped communicating, or that His people were unable to notice because they were following false gods. Either way, ancient Israel wasn’t hearing from God.
For a follower of God, it is imperative that we are able to hear His voice. While God can speak directly to us through His Spirit, we also have access to His Word, the Bible. He can and will speak to us through the Bible if we are engaging with it. If hearing from God is something you struggle with, grab your Bible and ask God to speak to you through it.
The Lord was still with His people.
1 Samuel 3:3 references the “lamp of God.” This lamp was representative of God’s presence with His people. It was to be tended every night until morning so that it would never go out. Even though Israel had turned from God, He hadn’t abandoned them. This is seen both through the lamp and through the Lord speaking to Samuel. God was with His people, waiting for someone who would hear and faithfully carry His message. He found that in Samuel.
Just because you feel like God has abandoned you doesn’t mean He has.
I think pretty much every follower of Jesus feels like they have been abandoned by God at some point. I know I have. The important thing to remember is that just because you feel like God has abandoned you doesn’t mean He has. God is faithful, even when His people are not. Even when we feel like God is far from us, we can know He hasn’t gone anywhere.
God is patient as we learn and grow.
The Lord spoke to Samuel three times without Samuel understanding what was happening, but He didn’t write Samuel off for failing to recognize His voice. Instead, God patiently called again and again until Eli finally realized what was happening and told Samuel how to respond.
Samuel didn’t figure this out alone. God used Eli, an imperfect mentor with plenty of failures, to help Samuel take his first steps. That’s often how God works. He uses imperfect people to help other imperfect people follow Him.
Hearing from God takes practice. As imperfect people, we will get it wrong sometimes. Getting it wrong doesn’t mean God is done with you. It means you are growing.
Why Is the Story of God Speaking to Samuel in the Bible?
The story of Samuel serves as a transition between two different periods in Israelite history. From Joshua to Samuel, for around 350 years, Israel was ruled by judges (like Samson). The judges served as spiritual guides for God’s people and were frequently used by God to deliver them from the oppression of other cultures.
Samuel was not only a prophet but also the last of the judges. When ancient Israel demanded a king like the other nations, Samuel would be the one to anoint the first two kings (King Saul followed by King David).
What’s the Main Point of God Calling Samuel?
Samuel’s story gives us insight into the complexity of God’s nature. He gives grace to His people when they turn away from Him, but at the same time doesn’t leave injustice and sin unpunished. It also shows us what it really takes for a person to be used by God.
3 Lessons the Story of God Calling Samuel Teaches Us
1. God cares about injustice.
Let’s be honest: Eli’s sons were terrible. While 1 Samuel 3 doesn’t give the full picture, the previous chapter does. Hophni and Phinehas stole portions of the people’s offerings that belonged to God and were sexually immoral with the women serving at the tabernacle entrance. Eli confronted them, but when they refused to listen, he did nothing more.
God did. He announced that Eli’s family would lose the priesthood because of their corruption and Eli’s failure to stop it.
This reminds us that God doesn’t ignore injustice. While people may abuse power or exploit others for a time, God sees it all. He is patient, but He is never indifferent.
2. God extends grace to His people.
During this period, God’s word had become rare. Whether because of Israel’s spiritual condition, corrupt leadership, or both, the nation wasn’t hearing from God as it once had.
But that doesn’t mean He was gone. God’s willingness to speak to Samuel shows us that He wanted His people to hear His voice and turn back to Him. This is because of His grace. Even though the Israelites turned their backs on God, He didn’t turn His back on them.
3. God’s calling is less about age and experience, and more about a willing heart.
We see in the first three chapters of 1 Samuel that Samuel is contrasted against Eli’s sons. Where they are corrupt, Samuel is faithful. This is what God is looking for in the people He has called. Yes, Hophni and Phinehas have the experience. They have the lineage. But Samuel has the character. Samuel has a heart that is faithful to God and willing to serve.
We see this echoed in the Gospels with Jesus’ disciples. On the surface, they didn’t have the training or pedigree. They also weren’t religious leaders in their community. They were fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots who were willing to be used by God.
Common Questions About the Story of Samuel
Does God still speak to people today?
Christians disagree about exactly how God speaks today, but nearly all agree that God speaks through Scripture and the Holy Spirit. The point of Samuel’s story isn’t to teach us to expect an audible voice. It’s to remind us that God is not silent and still calls people to follow Him.
Why wasn’t God speaking to His people during this time?
The short answer is that ancient Israelites had turned away from God. It’s a cycle we see repeated over and over in the Old Testament: Israel experiences peace and prosperity, and they drift away from God. To correct this, God allows hardship. The people cry out to God, and God hears their pleas and rescues them. Then, the cycle starts again.
How had Eli’s sons blasphemed God?
Essentially, they were stealing from God. God laid out precise rules for sacrifices, and the priests were actually allowed to take a portion of the sacrifice for themselves. Hophni and Phinehas, however, were demanding portions of the sacrifice that were supposed to be given to God. Add to this the sexual immorality, and you get the image of two men who cared little for their service to God.
Why wouldn’t God allow Eli to make up for the things his family had done?
There is some debate about this, but the truth is we don’t know for certain. The message God gave Samuel in 1 Samuel 3 is a confirmation of a prophecy spoken to Eli in 1 Samuel 2. Some scholars believe the prophecy in 1 Samuel 2 was a warning and an opportunity for change, while the confirmation from Samuel was to tell Eli that the time to change had passed.
Why did God pick a kid to be the one He spoke to?
This has less to do with Samuel being a kid and more to do with who Samuel was. When we look at the people in this story, we have two corrupt priests, a man who had failed in his duties both as high priest and as a father, and a young boy serving faithfully. God knows the hearts of people. He knew Samuel, regardless of age, was full of faith and willing to serve Him.
Why was Samuel living with Eli?
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, had prayed for a child for many years. She promised that if God gave her a son, she would dedicate his life to serving Him. After Samuel was born and weaned, Hannah brought him to serve at the tabernacle under Eli’s care, where he grew up ministering before the Lord (see 1 Samuel 1).
Did Hannah abandon Samuel?
No. Hannah fulfilled a promise she had made to God, but she didn’t disappear from Samuel’s life. The Bible tells us she visited him every year, bringing him a new robe, and God later blessed Hannah with more children (1 Samuel 2:18-21).
Reflect or Discuss
- Which part of this story do you connect with the most?
- When was a time you felt God was speaking to you?
- What can be difficult about listening when God tells us to do something?
Want to keep exploring? This story is part of The Old Testament, Story by Story—a beginner-friendly library of Old Testament Bible stories organized by era, with plain-language guides to what each one means.