MAY 15-16 – Who called me?

“…Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, "Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place” - 1 Samuel 3:7-9

I love reading biographies, especially those that recount unexplained incidents. The biography of Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall is one of these. In the biography 'A Man Called Peter, Cathrine, Peter's wife, recounts a strange incident that happened to Peter early in his life.

Peter was over here in England, working in the village of Bamburgh, sixteen miles from the Scottish border. Peter had spent the day visiting in a nearby village, and by the time he set off for Bamburgh, it was a dark starless night, and on foot, Peter had to make his way across moorland. If you've ever experienced the density of darkness on moorland at night, you'll know that it's a blackness that is almost tangible – so dense that no visible paths or signs can be seen – the nearest experience one can have to being rendered totally blind. This was the situation Peter was in.

Suddenly he heard his name; “Peter!” There was real urgency in the voice. “Yes,” Peter replied, stopping and listening. Getting no reply he carried on, gingerly feeling his way, step by step. Suddenly, the voice came again, even more urgently; “Peter!!” He stopped dead still – the darkness was impenetrable, and he stumbled and fell on his knees. Reaching out his hand to steady himself, there was nothing there. Cautiously he began to search around, his hands covering a semicircle in front of him, to find he was on the very brink of an abandoned stone quarry – one more step and he would have plummeted to his death.

There was never a doubt in Peter's mind about the Source of the voice. He was convinced that God had a purpose for his life, and had protected him from certain death.

Stop and think, how many times can you recall unexplained events in your life? Times you have decided to travel a different route, to find later that had you gone your normal way you would have been part of a road accident? Or, mind full of what you have to do, you step out to cross the road and feel a hand pulling you back? When we are in danger God's voice is persistent – but are we listening?

Today's music is 'Calling Me' – Gaithers (LIVE). Click on the picture to the right to listen.