Why God spoke to Samuel – Part 2

Why God spoke to Samuel – Part 2

Text: 1 Samuel 2–3


 

It always amazes me that God would choose a 12-year-old boy to reveal deep “state secrets” rather than speaking to the clergy. These were not small matters—these were issues at the very heart of the temple, concerning the highest levels of spiritual leadership.

 

You would expect God to speak to the experienced.
You would expect Him to speak to the trained.
You would expect Him to speak to those in position and authority.

 

But He didn’t.

 

Instead, God bypassed the priesthood…He passed over the established leadership… And He spoke to a child.

 

Why?

 

What was it about Samuel that caught the attention of God? What kind of heart causes heaven to speak? And what does this reveal about the kind of people God chooses to entrust with His voice?

 

In the earlier devotion we considered the following

 

·      He positioned himself in God’s presence

·      He served faithfully to what has already been revealed

·      He stood out in a dark generation

 

There are other factors I think was relevant.

 

He Was growing spiritually - “The boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord” (1 Sam 2:21). His life was marked by steady spiritual growth. God entrusts His voice to those who are growing, not stagnant.

 

Samuel was not stagnant, he was growing. And this matters, because God entrusts His voice to those who are growing, not those who are standing still. Spiritual growth is not automatic, it is intentional.

 

1. Growth happens in God’s presence - Samuel grew “before the Lord.” You cannot grow spiritually while being distant from God. Growth happens when we consistently position ourselves in His presence.

 

2. Growth happens through daily obedience - Samuel’s life was made up of small, faithful acts of service. There was nothing spectacular—but there was consistency. What we repeatedly obey, we eventually become.

 

3. Growth happens as we learn to hear God - Samuel did not recognise God’s voice at first (1 Sam 3:7). But he grew into it. Spiritual growth includes learning to discern God’s voice over time.

 

4. Growth requires humility and teachability - Samuel was willing to be guided. A growing person remains teachable, even when guidance comes through imperfect people.

 

This pattern is seen throughout Scripture.

 

It was said of John the Baptist, “the child grew and became strong in spirit” (Luke 1:80).

It was said of Jesus Christ, “He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

 

If even Jesus grew, then growth is not optional—it is essential. God speaks to those who are becoming, not those who are remaining the same. Before God could speak through Samuel publicly, He was growing him privately.

 

Reflection


  • Am I growing spiritually, or have I become comfortable and stagnant?
  • Am I intentionally spending time in God’s presence?
  • Am I faithful in the small, daily acts of obedience?
  • Am I still teachable, or have I become resistant to correction?

 

Your growth today determines what you can carry tomorrow.

 

Prayer

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You are committed to our growth. Lord, we do not want to remain stagnant. Help us to grow in Your presence, to seek You consistently, and to value time with You above all else. Teach us to be faithful in the small things. Give us hearts that obey, even when no one is watching.

 

Lord, sharpen our ability to hear Your voice. As You did with Samuel, train our ears to recognize when You are speaking. Keep us humble and teachable. Remove pride and resistance, and give us a spirit that is willing to learn and grow. Shape us in the hidden places, so that we may be ready for what You want to do through us in the open.

 

Speak, Lord—we are listening.

In Jesus’ name, 


Amen.

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