February 16-20

Can You Hear Me Now? – When the Signal Is Weak

“And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.” 
 1 Samuel 3:1b (ESV)

For years, Verizon ran commercials with a technician walking around asking, “Can you hear me now?” The point was simple: a strong signal changes everything. Dropped calls frustrate relationships. Poor reception creates confusion.

Spiritually, 1 Samuel 3 opens during a nationwide signal problem. “The word of the LORD was rare.” God had not gone silent because He lacked power. The silence reflected a people who had drifted. Corrupt leadership, compromised worship, and passive obedience had dulled spiritual reception.

Biblically, this is sobering. When hearts grow hard, God’s voice seems distant. Yet even in silence, God was preparing Samuel. While corruption grew in Eli’s house, quiet faithfulness was growing in God’s servant. For believers today, the issue is not whether God speaks; He has spoken through His Word. The real question is reception. Are we attentive? Or have distraction and compromise weakened our signal?

Reflection Questions

What might be interfering with your spiritual reception?

How can you position yourself to hear God more clearly?

Suggested Prayer

Speak, Lord. Clear away the noise in my heart so I can hear You.

The Failure of a Family

“Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.”
 1 Samuel 2:12 (ESV)

In 2001, the Enron scandal exposed executives who projected success while secretly practicing corruption (U.S. SEC Report on Enron). Outward appearance masked inward decay.

Eli’s sons wore priestly garments but rejected priestly obedience. They abused sacrifices and exploited worshippers. Scripture says plainly, “They did not know the LORD.” Religious proximity is not the same as spiritual intimacy. Biblically, their sin was not weakness but rebellion. They treated holy things casually. Worship became self-serving instead of God-honoring.

This passage warns believers that familiarity with church life does not equal faithfulness. When reverence fades, corruption follows. God takes holiness seriously because His glory is at stake.

Reflection Questions

Where might you be growing spiritually casual?

How can you cultivate deeper reverence for God?

Suggested Prayer

Holy God, guard my heart from spiritual apathy.

The Failure of a Father

“Why then do you scorn my sacrifices… and honor your sons above me?” 
1 Samuel 2:29a (ESV)

A dad once bragged that he believed in “gentle parenting.” When asked what that meant, he said, “I gently ask my kids to obey, and they gently ignore me.” We laugh because we’ve seen it. Correction without courage produces chaos.

Eli loved his sons, but he failed to restrain them. He confronted them verbally but never followed through decisively. God’s rebuke was piercing: Eli honored his sons above the Lord. Biblically, misplaced priorities reveal misplaced worship. Eli’s sin was not hatred of God but fear of confrontation. Leadership requires courage, especially at home.

This passage reminds us that spiritual authority must be exercised faithfully. Love that refuses to correct is not biblical love. Honoring God sometimes requires difficult obedience.

Reflection Questions

Where are you avoiding a hard conversation God is calling you to have?

How can you lead with both truth and love?

Suggested Prayer

Father, give me courage to honor You above comfort.

Learning to Follow God’s Plan

“And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him.” 1 Samuel 3:19a (ESV)

Jackie Robinson endured relentless hostility when integrating Major League Baseball in 1947. Branch Rickey chose him not only for talent but for the strength to endure suffering with integrity (“The Integration of Baseball”).

While Eli’s sons exploited privilege, Samuel quietly served. Scripture repeatedly notes that he “ministered before the LORD” and that he “grew.” Growth happened in obscurity. Biblically, God forms character before influence. Samuel’s faithfulness in small things prepared him for national leadership. God shapes servants long before He elevates them.

This reminds believers that obscurity is not insignificance. God is forming us in hidden places.

Reflection Questions

What quiet acts of faithfulness is God using to shape you?

Are you willing to serve before you are seen?

Suggested Prayer

Lord, grow my character as I follow Your plan.

Listening to Hear God’s Voice

“Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:9b (ESV)

A study from Microsoft in 2015 humorously concluded that the average human attention span had dropped to eight seconds: shorter than a goldfish (Microsoft Canada Consumer Insights Report). Whether fully accurate or not, it explains why we reheat coffee three times and still forget why we walked into the kitchen.

Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice at first. He thought it was Eli. It took humility and instruction to learn how to respond. When he finally said, “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears,” everything changed. Biblically, hearing God requires readiness before clarity. Samuel positioned himself as a servant before he understood the message.

Listening in Scripture is always connected to obedience. God still speaks through His Word. The question is not whether He calls, but whether we slow down long enough to respond.

Reflection Questions

What distractions are dulling your spiritual hearing?

Are you prepared to obey before God even speaks?

Suggested Prayer

Speak, Lord. I am listening. Help me obey.