What can we learn from Eli about accepting difficult truths from God? Setting the Scene The boy Samuel has just delivered God’s severe message of judgment to Eli. “So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. ‘He is the LORD,’ Eli replied. ‘Let Him do what is good in His sight.’” (1 Samuel 3:18) Eli’s Immediate Response: A Portrait in Submission • Acknowledges God’s sovereignty: “He is the LORD.” • Affirms God’s righteous character: “Let Him do what is good.” • Accepts the verdict without protest or self-defense. Lesson 1: Recognize God’s Absolute Authority • Eli’s first words center on God’s identity, not his own feelings. • Psalm 115:3 — “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.” • Romans 9:20 — The clay cannot question the potter. When truth confronts us, begin with who God is. Lesson 2: Trust the Goodness of God Even in Judgment • Eli believes the LORD’s action will still be “good.” • Job 1:21 — “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” • Psalm 119:68 — “You are good, and You do what is good.” God’s discipline flows from the same heart that blesses. Lesson 3: Receive the Whole Word, Not Just the Pleasant Parts • Samuel “hid nothing.” Eli listened to it all. • Acts 20:27 — Paul declares “the whole counsel of God.” A teachable spirit refuses selective hearing. Lesson 4: Humility Opens the Door to Correction • No excuses, no blame-shifting. • Proverbs 9:8-9 — “Rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” • James 1:21 — “Humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.” Humility lets hard truth do its healing work. Lesson 5: Discipline Is a Mark of Sonship • Hebrews 12:5-11 — “The Lord disciplines the one He loves.” • Revelation 3:19 — “Those I love, I rebuke and discipline.” Eli’s acceptance models the proper response of a child toward a Father. Practical Ways to Imitate Eli When God Speaks Hard Truths 1. Examine Scripture carefully; let it speak without editing. 2. Acknowledge God’s right to rule every area of life. 3. Surrender reputation and outcomes to His wisdom. 4. Invite the Spirit to produce repentance and renewed obedience. 5. Act on what you’ve heard; do not delay (James 1:22-25). Contrast: Earlier Passivity vs. Final Submission • Eli once warned his sons softly (1 Samuel 2:22-25). • By chapter 3 he bows fully, though consequences remain. • Early obedience averts judgment, yet late submission still honors God. Echoes Through Scripture • David: “Let Him do to me what seems good to Him” (2 Samuel 15:26). • Hezekiah: “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good” (Isaiah 39:8). • Paul’s companions: “The Lord’s will be done” (Acts 21:14). Eli stands in a long line of servants who trusted God’s heart above their own comfort. Key Takeaway Accepting difficult truths from God means bowing to His sovereignty, trusting His goodness, and allowing His Word—pleasant or painful—to shape our lives. Eli’s simple, surrendered reply shows the posture every believer needs when confronted with the unvarnished voice of the LORD. |
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