Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Samuel 3:17-18 (New Living Translation)

¹⁷ “What did the Lord say to you? Tell me everything. And may God strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!”¹⁸ So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”

Sometimes even the most mature of us say the stupidest things. Here is Eli. He is old, experienced, and while a lousy father, he is a devout servant of the LORD. Samuel relays to Eli what the LORD intends to do.

And what does Eli say? “Well, if the LORD wants to do that, I’ll let him.”

I’ll let him? Is he kidding. I’ll let him. When does God need our permission? When does God need us to move aside so He can do what He wants?

The arrogance is unbelievable. I guess it is much like I see around me, and sometimes in me, every day.