LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF ELI

Tom Moore

Studying the Old Testament is very important; and yet, so often neglected. The apostle Paul declared, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come” (I Cor.10:11). Let us turn our attention to the life of Eli so as to learn lessons to improve our spiritual lives.

Eli jumped to conclusions (I Sam.1:14-16). Eli saw Hannah in a very mournful state as a result of her not being able to bear children, and he falsely assumed that she was drunk. Here Eli was passing judgment and condemning Hannah without the proper evidence. Jesus said, “Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). When people are wrong they need to be condemned! But many times people are condemned by others who have no evidence that wrong has taken place, or have mishandled what facts they do have. We must be careful that we have the idea correct before we come to a conclusion. Many people are over weight, not because they have eaten too much food, but because they have put their foot in their mouth too many times.

Another lesson we learn from the life of Eli is that the parents always seem to be the last to know of the evil doings of their children (I Sam.2:22). Eli’s sons, it seems, had for a long time been doing evil in the sight of Israel. So much so that the people “abhorred the offering of the Lord” (I Sam.2:17). Why had this evil been going on so long before Eli had heard about it? Because the parents are always the last to know. Why!? The reason is that parents are not keeping a close enough eye on their children. Do we as parents know who our children’s friends are? Do we know their parents? Do we know what kind of morals their friends have? Do we know what kind of music our children are listening to? Do we kknow where our children go when they go out with their friends? Our children may say that you are getting into their business. But it is your business to protect them from evil and evil influences. This is something that Eli failed to do. This is something that we MUST NOT fail to do if we want our children to grow to be faithful Christians.

Thirdly, Eli honored his sons above God (I Sam. 2:29). Eli had a problem that many parents have today, putting their wishes for or the wishes of their children above the wishes of God. When all is said and done, parents who do not put the wishes of God first do not really love their children. If parents really loved their children they would realize that which will help them to reach that eternal abode with our Lord in heaven. Too many parents allow their children to do things they shouldn’t because they want them to be popular, or because they do not want to listen to their complaining. Honoring God above our children is a hard thing to do many times, but it is essential to the salvation of all those involved.

Another lesson we learn from the life of Eli is that he suffered the consequences of not restraining his children (I Sam.3:13). A curse was laid upon the house of Eli because he simply refused to discipline his children. Many today are suffering the consequences of their neglect in raising their children. What consequences? Many parents are mourning because their children are no longer faithful to the Lord. Hoards of parents lament over the fact that their children’s marriages are in shambles. Multitudes of parents bemoan the fact of their children’s drug or alcohol problem, or that they are with child out of wedlock. Restrain your children while there is still hope!