Ordinary people, extraordinary God – Eli & Sons Limited, God will not be mocked

1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25, 26-36; 4:14-22

The word of God has all the reality of life within it. God is holy and He hated sin and wickedness, especially in His family and the church.

1. Eli was blind (1 Samuel 3:1-2; 4:14-15) – Eli was high priest and his sons were the religious leaders. There was no-one above them but God. The sons were abusing their power and exploiting their position. God will not be mocked. Eli was blind, both physically and spiritually. He thought Hannah was drunk and that Samuel was having a bad dream. He turned a blind eye to his sons wickedness and did nothing except give them a mild telling off. How blind are you? Being spiritually blind will not end well.
2. Eli was very fat (1 Samuel 2:29; 4:18) – Eli’s fatness is emphasised because Eli and hus sons were feasting on meat that belonged to God and His people. What should happen to the offerings of meat was clearly defined in the law. Eli and sons were making themselves fat on the best parts of the offerings. God hates injustice and wickedness and will not be mocked. In 1 Samuel 12:1-4 Samuel shows what a true leader should be like. Eli and sons were feeding themselves and starving the people,  both physically and spiritually. Denying ourselves is fundamental to the Christian life. How selfish are you? Do you rob Jesus of what belongs to Him?
3. Eli was weak and complacent (1 Samuel 2:12,17; 3:18) – Eli and sons had no fear of the Lord. They had no reverence for the Lord. They treated the Lord with contempt. The sin of Eli’s sons was great in God’s eyes, but is wasn’t great in Eli’s eyes and he turned a blind eye to it. Eli put his family before God and did not deal with the sin within his family. Even when God warned him he did nothing about it. Are you weak and complacent about sin in your life or your family?
4. Eli and sons were dead (1 Samuel 4:17-21) – Eli had every opportunity to repent and deal with the sin of his dons, but in one day Eli, his two sons and his daughter-in-law died. We need to fear God and follow Him before we end up dead under the judgement of God.