Hindrances to Hearing

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well), and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.”

Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him.

So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Visit a major airplane construction plant and you will be amazed by two things: the size of the airplanes under construction and the noise level. Much of the machinery used to assemble aircraft is driven by air pressure devices. Because of this, a person in the assembly plant is subjected to constant noise pollution. Safety is a top concern, and workers are given earplugs and safety glasses for protection. Plant managers also have keen eyes as to potential dangers. Once the earplugs are in place and the machinery turned on, there is no way you can yell to a co-worker and be heard.

Many of God’s people are like employees in an airplane production plant. They cannot hear God’s voice because they are too busy assembling the pieces of their lives. They wear the earplugs of worldly thinking, becoming complacent toward the things of God. When the bottom drops out, they wonder why God allowed it. But in actuality, God spent months and in some cases years shouting warnings that went unheeded. In your life, is it time to take the earplugs out, turn off the machinery of the world, and listen to God’s voice?

“What hinders [us] from hearing is that [we are] taken up with other things.” -Oswald Chambers