Do you remember some movies or TV shows – especially older ones, where someone is asleep in bed and that person is JOLTED awake by a telephone call? If you can recall one of those scenes, it usually was bad or disturbing news coming in on that call.
When I had my business I received a call several times in the night from the alarm service, reporting a possible break in and that the county sheriff had been called. So, obviously I had to get going quickly to meet the sheriff. Usually it was a false alarm, but one time there was an open door – but no sign of anyone around…that was scary, as I waited where I was told to stay, while the officers with guns drawn and holding flashlights slowly went through my building. (They didn’t find anyone, and nothing appeared to be missing or damaged.)
There were several years when the business was open 24 hours a day – three shifts. The night shift had been told repeatedly NOT TO CALL ME UNLESS it was an emergency. Two AM seemed like a good time to call me and ask things like if I knew where a broom was? Or the job in #23 just finished, do you know what goes in it next? And I think we are out of 1/4 – 20 taps… I never understood why some people could not decide what a true emergency was and just wake someone else in the middle of the night!
Perhaps you have a memory of a phone call in the night. Chances are it was also bad or disturbing news…
In the Bible in 1 Samuel 3, there is an incredible true story about In A Call In The Night – and it didn’t involve a telephone! It’s when the Lord calls Samuel in person! Remember the story? Samuel had gone to live with Eli and to learn the ways of the temple. While Samuel was sleeping the Lord called him. He jumped up and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, you called me.” Eli said, “I didn’t call you, go back and lie down.” This happened two more times until Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel. So, he told him what to do. If he calls again say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” So, Samuel went back to bed and the Lord came and stood there like the other times saying, “Samuel, Samuel”! Then Samuel said, “Speak Lord for you servant is listening.”
The Lord told Samuel many things that were going to happen to Eli and his family because Eli had been unwilling to deal with his sinful sons… That had to be a lot for young Samuel to take in! But he had received A Call In The Night from the Lord – in person, and he was now on his way to serving as a priest, as the first prophet and as the last judge in Israel!
God speaks to us today through His living Word the Bible and through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. And God doesn’t want what’s in our heads, He only wants what’s in our hearts…
Till Next Time…..
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