u003cstrongu003eStories from the Bible for Kids – VOL iiu003c/strongu003e

The Boy Samuel Hears God – Book 7

Long ago, in the beautiful land of Israel, there lived a young boy named Samuel. Samuel lived and worked at God’s house, called the tabernacle, with an old priest named Eli. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, loved God very much. Before Samuel was born, she prayed and asked God to give her a son. When God answered her prayer, Hannah promised that Samuel would serve God all his life.u003cbru003eSo when Samuel was still a little boy, Hannah brought him to live at the tabernacle with Eli. Every year she visited him and brought him a new little robe she had made with love.u003cbru003eSamuel liked helping in God’s house. He opened the doors in the morning, cleaned the lamps, and helped Eli with his work. Samuel obeyed Eli and tried to do what was right. Even though Samuel was young, he loved God very much.u003cbru003eOne quiet night, everything was still. Eli was lying down to sleep because his eyes were weak and he could not see very well anymore. Samuel was also lying down near the lamp of God inside the tabernacle.u003cbru003eSuddenly, Samuel heard a voice calling his name.u003cbru003e“Samuel!”u003cbru003eSamuel quickly sat up. He thought Eli was calling him. He jumped from his bed and ran to Eli.u003cbru003e“Here I am,” Samuel said. “You called me.”u003cbru003eBut Eli looked surprised.u003cbru003e“I did not call you,” Eli answered kindly. “Go back and lie down.”u003cbru003eSo Samuel went back to bed.u003cbru003eA little later, the voice came again.u003cbru003e“Samuel!”u003cbru003eSamuel hurried to Eli once more.u003cbru003e“Here I am! You called me,” Samuel said.u003cbru003eAgain Eli replied, “I did not call you, my son. Go back and lie down.”u003cbru003eSamuel obeyed and returned to bed, but he was confused. Who kept calling him?u003cbru003eThen it happened a third time.u003cbru003e“Samuel!”u003cbru003eSamuel ran to Eli again.u003cbru003e“Here I am! You called me!”u003cbru003eThis time Eli understood something very important. He realized that God was calling the boy.u003cbru003eEli gently told Samuel, “Go and lie down again. If you hear the voice again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’”u003cbru003eSamuel nodded and quietly returned to his bed.u003cbru003eThen the Lord called once more.u003cbru003e“Samuel! Samuel!”u003cbru003eSamuel’s heart beat fast, but this time he remembered Eli’s words. He answered softly, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.”u003cbru003eGod spoke to Samuel and gave him an important message. From that day on, Samuel knew that God was with him. As Samuel grew older, he became one of Israel’s greatest prophets. People trusted his words because God helped him speak the truth.u003cbru003eThe next morning, Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the message God had given him. But Eli encouraged him to speak honestly. Samuel obeyed and told Eli everything.u003cbru003eEli listened carefully and said, “He is the Lord. Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”u003cbru003eAs the years passed, everyone in Israel knew that God had chosen Samuel. God continued to speak to him, and Samuel faithfully listened and obeyed.u003cbru003eThis wonderful story teaches us that God can speak to anyone—even children! Samuel was young, but he had a listening heart. God loves when we pray, listen, and obey Him.u003cbru003eWhenever we read the Bible, pray quietly, and follow what is right, we can also say:u003cbru003e“Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.”