Revelation

 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
1 Samuel 3:7 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1sa.3.7.ESV

The call of Samuel by the Lord is a famous Sunday School story. From my remembrance of its retelling, certain details escaped my notice. Although Samuel is often commended, in reality, at this stage, he was pretty clueless.

The Lord was calling Samuel audibly, and he assumed it was his mentor Eli. In the end it was Eli who realised it must be God calling him. This verse explains why Samuel didn't know God was calling him.

Samuel didn't yet know the Lord. Getting to know God isn't about us groping about in the dark for Him. It's about Him revealing Himself to us.

The word of the Lord was about to be revealed to Samuel, and it wasn't going to be easily palatable. Eli's evil sons were going to be put to death. It was going to be hard for Samuel to break the news to Eli.

'Dear Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to us in Your word. May we know You personally and respond positively to Your commands, in Jesus' name, amen'

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