God Calls Samuel

In the biblical account from 1 Samuel 3, God calls the young Samuel at night while he serves in the tabernacle at Shiloh under the elderly priest Eli, initially mistaking the voice for Eli's until guided to respond with openness to God's message. God then reveals the coming judgment on Eli's household due to the corruption of his sons, establishing Samuel as a direct recipient of divine revelation during a time when such communications were rare. This event marks the start of Samuel's lifelong prophetic ministry, positioning him as a key transitional figure who would later anoint Israel's first kings. Its significance in Scripture lies in demonstrating God's initiative in raising up faithful leaders and bridging the era of the judges with the monarchy.