God's People: Eli

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. ~ I Samuel 3:1-9

I'm a preachers kid: PKs as we are fondly known.
Granted, I didn't become one until I was in my 30s, so I didn't have to grow up with a parent as a pastor as some do. I'm rather glad of that. There's a big, shiny spotlight that follows PKs around.
In the chapter before this one, we find out that Eli has some PKs in his household. And Eli's sons have had the spotlight on them for sure: for their bad behavior. Behavior bad enough that God sent a messenger to let Eli know that his sons are doomed. 
Fortunately not the story that most of the PKs I know end up with.
Yet here we meet Eli again - after the news has been broken to him and finding himself in the temple where his work and his life are. And if Eli wasn't astute enough to catch on to what had happened to his sons before this (or for that matter to Hannah even earlier), he is astute enough to catch on to what's happening to his protege, Samuel.
Here we are told Eli is perceptive. (Maybe it is easier to be perceptive about people not in our immediate family!)
Here Eli makes up for being a bit obtuse about Hannah, by seeing clearly what's going on with her son, Samuel.
Despite having eyes that are "dim," he "sees" what is happening to Samuel.
He knows God is calling him.
It isn't always so easy to hear God's call - or to see God's call to others. I like that it takes Samuel three times to go to Eli before he figures out what's happening.
But even more I like Eli's graciousness to Samuel. His sons - who by all intents and purposes should have been the ones to take on his mantle - have been condemned. Nevertheless, Eli is going to be there for the boy who has been given in service to God.
He knows that whatever his family issues, God's work will still be accomplished, even if it isn't through him.

Prayer: God of grace, give me guides to help me hear your call, and help me to see the call in others and to support them. Amen.

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