The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Samuel 8:1-7, “And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.
2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.
3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;
5 and they said to him, ‘Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.’
6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7 The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.’”

There are two things in this passage that mystify me. First, Samuel was brought to this very place
when he was but a small boy. Eli was then judge in Israel, and his sons became judges under their
father. Yet, they were evil and used their positions to engage in all manner of evil, even in the sight
of the LORD. Samuel witnessed Eli’s sons and their sinfulness.

One would have thought that Samuel would have trained his own sons better than he did. They were
virtually as evil as Eli’s sons. Who were the protectors of the nation when the judges were corrupt?
The elders of Israel came to Samuel, who was now old and not ruling the people as the LORD
Intended. The elders insisted that Samuel appoint a king to rule over them.

Samuel was displeased over the elders’ request. One thing he had not forsaken, however, was
prayer. He cried out to the LORD, Who replied, “Listen to the voice of the people…” Is it possible
that we sometimes set prayer aside because we’re afraid of what the LORD will say? The LORD took the responsibility, saying “Listen to the voice of the people…they have not rejected you (Samuel), they have rejected Me from being king over them.”

Taking responsibility as He did, the LORD intentionally spared Samuel. He does the same for us
when He gave His Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross for our sins. Our failures are our own; nevertheless, the LORD Jesus took them upon Himself when He went to the cross. His death is for
us, yet we must ask Him to forgive us and trust Him to do so. The spiritual cycle recommences
when we, as parents, set the right course and attitude for our children. But, we have to know Him first! Have you committed your life to Jesus? He lived and died to forgive your sins and mine.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom