“Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭3:9-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/59/1sa.3.9-10.esv

Samuel didn’t know it was the Lord calling him at first. He mistook God’s voice for Eli’s voice. It is easy to understand how this could happen: Eli was in one room, Samuel was in the other. This is why we must spend time with God ourselves, to be able to discern His voice. When God calls it may sound like something or someone else but we must listen closely to know I is Him.

God was calling out Samuel at a young age. We must be careful and not play off God’s call on children as something imaginary. God had him in ministry, living with his mentor but it was God’s call that changed Samuel’s life. Even though he was young, it was his young ears that heard what Eli did not.

Eli should have been able to discern what was happening, being that he was a spiritual man but he didn’t at first. As a mentor in others’ lives we need to pay attention and be discerning as much as possible. Eli finally realized what was happening and tells Samuel to go and listen, to ask God to speak. As a mentor we cannot issue God’s call but we can help people hear it.

Have you heard God’s call for your life?

How have you mistaken God’s call?

Are you helping to direct other people to hear God’s call?