Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel . . . 1 Samuel 2: 22a, NIV.
Gracious God, we are listening. Please speak to our hearts as we study Your holy Word. Amen.
Today we are going to take a quick look at Eli, a father who did not do a very good job of raising his own two sons, Hophni and Phineas, but who did a wonderful job in helping to raise Samuel, Hannah and Elkanah’s son! It would almost seem as if he had matured into fatherhood, by the time Samuel came on the scene. As a parent myself, in lamenting the mistakes I made in raising my children, I have often summed up my wishes this way: I wish I had the energy of youth, and the wisdom of old age when I was raising my children. Unfortunately, that is not the way life has been set up. Usually, we learn as we go.
But thanks be to God! When I look at the wonderful human beings my children turned out to be, I realize, that there is a merciful, gracious, good God, at work; who will take our mistakes, and turn them into miracles; if, in faith, we ask Him to; and especially, if our children are willing. I am sure that many of you can say the same thing. So, take heart dear parents, and don’t ever stop praying for your children! We will begin our study by observing the behavior of Eli’s two sons:
Hophni and Phineas. Scripture informs us, “Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD. Now it was the practice of the priests with the people that whenever anyone offered a sacrifice and while the meat was being boiled, the servant of he priest would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand. He would plunge it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot, and the priest would take for himself whatever the fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. But even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.” If the man said to him, “Let the fat be burned up first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would then answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.” This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD’s sight, for they were treating the LORD’s sacrifice with contempt” (1 Samuel 2: 12-17).
If we read Leviticus 4, especially verses 8 & 9; Leviticus 16, especially verse 25; and Leviticus 17 (as a matter of fact, read from chapters 1-7 & 10. There are other chapters that you can read as well), we will recognize that Eli’s sons were breaking every rule, in regards to the offering of sacrifices. It was specified that the fat was to be burned upon the altar (7: 3, 4). Also, if they were asking for the flesh raw, which is what we would call rare, in our day, they most likely were eating the flesh with the blood in it! God had a lot to say about the blood. He specifically said, that it was unacceptable, no, prohibited (Leviticus 17: 10-14), to eat any manner of flesh with the blood in it! They could have been killed immediately! Oh, the mercies of almighty God!
It is extremely sad, that sacred Scripture says, “Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the LORD’s people. If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him? His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke . . .” (2 Samuel 2: 22-25).
None of us are in a position to judge anyone – let that be an established fact. I truly believe that every parent desires the best for his or her children. What I do want to emphasize however, is that the building blocks that will serve as the foundation for the character of the child are laid in very early childhood. I would venture to say, before five years of age. Whatever good we want to do for them, must be done in babyhood and infancy; when they are moldable, and we are young and strong enough to mold them. Note that Scripture says that when Eli spoke to them, “Eli was very old . . .” They were already grown. “He that has ears, listen!”
To be continued. . .