Fri.’s Devo - Prophecy Fulfilled

Read: 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22; John 5:24-47; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 106:1-12
God warned Eli himself, through an unnamed prophet and through a child, Samuel, but it didn’t change his actions. He talked to his sons about their sins but refused to discipline them or remove them from their office. Eli was told by the prophet that his family would no longer serve as priests and that the few that did serve would go blind and have their hearts broken and both of his sons would die a violent death on the same day. His offspring would be poor and die young.
Samuel added that the sins of Eli and his sons would never be forgiven by sacrifices.
True to the prophecy, Eli died blind. His heart was broken when he heard that the ark had been captured and was told that both of his sons had died in battle.
The Philistines attacked Israel, took the ark and killed 30,000 Israelite soldiers in a day.
Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas went into labor and died bringing her son into the world. She named him Ichabod to mourn the capturing of the ark and the death of her husband. Poor boy! I hope someone renamed him.
In John, the Pharisees were accused of the same thing Eli was accused of. They had the truth right in front of them but they refused to see it. They were responsible for handling the Torah and teaching it to the people but they didn’t understand it in their hearts, so they totally missed the living Word standing in front of them.
They claimed to believe in Moses, but if they had truly believed in what Moses said, they would have recognized who He was. They didn’t so it revealed their true hearts.
Those who believe in Him would never face the wrath of God or condemnation for their sins. They will be raise to eternal life but those who do not believe in him will be raised to the judgment seat of Christ. All will be raised, but not all will stay. Some will be rewarded and others condemned.
Lord, thank you that your judgments are just and fair. Thank you for eternal life in your son. Thank you that you do bring us hope in the midst of despair.