God’s Voice to Leadership
I Samuel chapters two and three point out some interesting characteristics of why the Spirit of God does not move. The High Priest of that day, Eli, had two sons: Hophni and Phinehas. The Bible calls these two “worthless men” (2:12). Eli basically did little to curb his sons’ appetite for the “fat, fame and fortune” of ministry even though he was fully aware that the things they were doing were an abomination to the Lord.
What happens when we look over sin? Punishment? Rebuke? Correction? All of these things may happen, yet the most stunning is that God just stops talking. God did not care to see the joy that Hophni and Phineas had about eating the best of the sacrificial offering. He was not very interested in their insatiable appetite for the women who were seeking men of power. I Samuel 3:1 says that in that day the Word of the Lord was rare and visions were infrequent. Those in the high places of leadership stopped looking to God and embraced the lust of their day.
In the midst of this, God blesses one praying lady. Hannah, who is persecuted and sorrowful of heart was chosen by God to give birth to one of the greatest judges and prophets in the history of Israel. The young lad, Samuel, was dedicated to the Lord at an early age. He played the part of the priest he would become. The Bible says he wore a linen ephod as commanded in the law as he ministered before the Lord. He certainly saw the perversion of Hophni and Phineas as he grew up. Even though he was in the temple, it provided no haven from the debauchery of ungodliness. Yet somehow he maintained a Spirit to which the Lord could speak.
As God saw the young man’s heart…His Word was no longer infrequent. In fact, God shared with Samuel the coming judgment on Eli and his sons, He also shared with Samuel how He would judge and deliver Israel, and He blessed Samuel to anoint the nation’s first two kings.
When we fail to hear God’s voice…we should always first look at leadership. As a pastor and man of God, am I hindering God’s Word to my church? to my family? to my heart? Let us be quick to say “Yes Lord, speak for your servant hears.”