The Calling of Samuel1Sam.3:9-10 and 1Sam.7:3-17 reveal God’s plan to raise up young Samuel to succeed Eli. Samuel receives one of the few audible calls from God recorded in the Bible, but notice that this is not a call to a type of work or ministry.”I didn’t call you, go back to bed,” Eli answered a second time. A third time God called Samuel and Samuel got up and went to Eli. And Samuel said: “Here I am!” Finally, Eli realized that it was God who was calling Samuel. He told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you again, say, ‘Speak LORD, for your servant is listening.”In the changes and confusions of today, in the indisposition to receive new light, in the confessions of multitudes that their eyes are dim and they cannot see, we may recognize a parallel to the time of Eli. Let us strive that in the new unfoldings of the Word of God we may ever keep that humility of mind that says, “Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth.”