Ages 4+ · Bible Stories · Rescuers and leaders
Samuel hears a voice
🙏Hannah prays🧹Samuel helps Eli🪔a lamp🌙night👂listening
A voice in the night.The big ideaThe Bible tells us Samuel listened when God called his name.
How it works
The Bible tells us Hannah prayed for a baby, and she had a baby boy named Samuel.
When Samuel was a little boy he lived in God's house and helped old Eli.
One night a voice called Samuel's name. Samuel ran to Eli three times, but Eli had not called him.
Then Eli understood who was calling. Samuel listened, and God talked with him.
Example 1: Run to Eli
- Lie down and listen for a name being called.
- Get up, run to a grown-up, and say here I am.
- Do it three times, as Samuel did, and then lie still and listen.
Example 2: A quiet minute
- Sit very quietly with your child for a minute.
- Listen, then name every sound you can hear.
- A good listener hears the little things.
Example 3: Help like Samuel
- Samuel helped old Eli and swept the floor.
- Eli was old and could not see well.
- Find one way to help a grown-up today.
Words to know
- priest
- A person who taught people and helped them pray. Eli was a priest.
- listen
- To be quiet and hear what someone says.
- lamp
- Samuel lit one in the evening, and its soft light filled the room.
- promise
- Hannah kept her promise to take Samuel to God's house.
Watch out
- Samuel thought the voice was Eli, but it was not.
- Samuel ran to Eli three times before he listened.
- Listening is how you learn and how you show you care.
Try it
- Who prayed for a baby?
- Who did Samuel think was calling him?
- How many times did Samuel run to Eli?
- What did Samuel do at last?
Answers: 1. Hannah · 2. Eli · 3. Three times · 4. He listened
Try at homeWith a grown-up, sit very quietly for a minute, then listen and name every sound you can hear.
For grown-upsPlay the listening game: close your eyes together and name every sound you hear. The story is about listening, so let your child lead.