Family - God Cares

Hannah, a barren and saddened woman, comes to the temple praying and weeping with anguish asking the Lord for a child. Her anguish causes her to appear drunk as she moves her lips in prayer but does not speak her petitions out loud but in her heart. Eli does not hesitate to reprimand the woman, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" But as soon as Eli realizes that she is in sorrow he is filled with compassion and ready to offer hope and assurance.

Samuel, a son of Hannah, now serving in the temple comes to Eli at night thinking he is being called by the priest. Eli recognizes that it is the Lord that spoke to the boy. He sends him back with instructions to respond by saying, "Speak, for Your servant hears." This man understands the ways of God.

The priests' sons, on the other hand, sinned without shame. Defiling the women that come to the temple as well as disrespectfully breaking God's ordinances in regards to the sacrifices brought by the people.

Eli, a priest and a father. Giving counsel to those who come to the temple. Unafraid to rebuke the sinner. Knowing the ways of God. And yet, he did not have a close relationship with his sons. He found out the evil deeds they where doing through reports that he heard from others. His sons sinned within the temple. God warned Eli and gave him the opportunity to repent as well as bring his sons to repentance. He did not heed the warning, honoring his sons above God, and so Eli's priesthood was taken away from him and his sons were punished.

The warning and punishment makes it evident that God cares about the family. Eli's family was more important to God than his service in the temple.

(1 Samuel 1-4)