Called and Found

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:7-10)

Samuel was a child when he heard (or felt) God calling him, but God's plans for Samuel began before he was even born. His mother, Hannah, had been unable to conceive, but she prayed fervently and made a vow to dedicate the child to the Lord's service. Although Hannah came every year to see him, it must have been so confusing - and possibly painful - for Samuel to be left, at such a young age, with the priest, Eli, who could barely see and had not raised his own sons well (1 Samuel 1-2). However he felt, Samuel was obedient to Eli and his obedience enabled him to be receptive to God.

As Jesus began his ministry by calling others to learn and be in ministry with him, most were immediately receptive. But when Jesus found Philip and called him into discipleship, Philip brought his skeptical friend, Nathanael. While there are various understandings of Jesus' statement about seeing Nathanael under the fig tree - rather Jesus literally saw him under a fig tree, or this was an expression about the coming Messiah - this was enough to break through Nathanael's cynicism and prejudice.

God knows each of us well enough to know what it takes to get our attention. We won’t miss it, God is persistent and wants to be in relationship with us personally. As God calls to us throughout each day, may we be found open to continually "come and see".

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (John 1:45-49)