Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Eli said to them, "I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the LORD's people are not good. If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede?" (1 Samuel 2:22-25 NLT)
Have you ever heard the phrase, "It's not what you know. It's who you know?" I've thought about that saying many times over the years. I've seen people play it out in the political arena, business world, and even the church. Now that I'm a pastor, I've seen people try to "butter up" to me over the years. They seem to think that somehow getting in good with me will make things good for them in the church. Unfortunately, it doesn't really work that way.
Eli was the High Priest before God. His ministry was to intercede for people who had sinned against God. When it came to his own sons, though, he couldn't intercede in a way that would help them avoid punishment. You see, they were sinning against God and had no remorse for their actions. There was no repentance. Because of this, the boys were going to be punished.
Then the LORD said to Samuel, "I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn't disciplined them. So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings." (1 Samuel 3:11-14 NLT)
You see, we can butter up to as many people as we want. We can even get in good with the highest ranking, best Christian that has ever walked the earth. The problem is, they are not powerful enough to change anything for us. Pastors, teachers, reverends, and priests only have the power to teach you the truth that has been given to us by God. We don't have the power to stop God from punishing you when you have no repentance in your heart. The best we can do is plead with you...not God. If you don't change your mind, we have to watch as God follows through on the negative parts of His promises just like Eli did.
So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn't hold anything back. "It is the LORD's will," Eli replied. "Let Him do what he thinks best." (1 Samuel 3:18 NLT)
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