Bible Study recap, 1 Samuel 3: 1-20

While this is an uplifting and inspiring story about a young boy who obeys the call of God and delivers a hard message, the other side of the story shows an inflexible and punitive side to God.

The background relates to Eli, who was priest at the Temple, and his sons who disrespected the sacrifices the people made to the Lord by "taking some off the top". The fact that Eli knew about this and that the sons continued in this blasphemy led to God's message to Samuel that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.

It seems the judgment was final and irrevocable. So where is the forgiveness in this story? What does this say about God?

So often there is much more the tale and we wondered what Eli tried to do and at what point does a father become accountable for the action of his sons? It brought to mind the news about the mother in Toronto who turned in her son when she discovered a machine gun on his pillow.

In the light of a federal election campaign, we also drew comparisons to government corruption with the greed shown by Eli's sons. It seems to be a universal problem of people wanting more than they deserve, of a sense of entitlement that goes beyond reasonable.

Even though Samuel does go on to do great and wonderful things, he becomes a strong and faithful leader of God's people, we couldn't help but feel for the fatalism of Eli and the futility of his situation.