Loving God, you know us completely, and you love us, and you call us to come and see. Help us to recognize you wherever we meet you, and especially in your Son Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Samuel is still only a boy when he hears a voice calling his name in the temple during the night. One historian (Josephus) writes that Samuel was probably 12 years old at the time. He had been living in the temple with Eli the priest ever since he was maybe 5 or 6, having been dedicated to God’s service before he was even born (1 Sam. 1). One night, God shows up, and Samuel’s life is never the same again.

We are told that Samuel did not yet know the Lord at the time (1 Sam. 3:7). In fact, we are told that the word of the Lord was quite rare in those days, and visions were not widespread (1 Sam. 3:1). It almost sounds like today, doesn’t it? Thus, Samuel has no idea at first that it is God’s voice that he is hearing as he lies in bed in the temple at Shiloh. He assumes (as most people would) that it is Eli who is calling him, and finally, after Samuel comes to him three times, Eli realizes that it is God who is calling Samuel by name.

The next time that the voice of the Lord speaks, Samuel responds as Eli has instructed him: “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:10). The first message that Samuel receives from God is specifically for Eli, who has already been warned about the bad behaviour of his sons as they serve as priests (1 Sam. 2). However, from that day on, Samuel serves as God’s prophet – somebody who hears and speaks the word of the Lord. After God shows up, Samuel goes on to become a respected leader in Israel – both a prophet and a judge. In fact, even after Samuel is dead, Saul still comes to him in order to hear the word of the Lord (1 Sam. 28).

Of course, in Samuel’s case, God does not show up only once in his life. Later on, when Israel is threatened by the Philistines, both the people and Samuel pray to God for help. On this occasion, God shows up in a violent thunderstorm that sends the Philistines into confusion. Israel is thus able to chase them away, and the Philistines never dare to attack again as long as Samuel is Israel’s leader and judge (1 Sam. 7:13). Each time that God shows up, things are never the same again.

This is just as true for Jacob as it was for Samuel. In Jacob’s case, too, God does not show up only once. For today, though, let’s focus on the dream that Jacob has at Bethel (Gen. 28). At the time, Jacob is running away from his brother Esau. In fact, Jacob had just tricked his father into blessing him instead of his elder brother. This is important because Jacob was by no means a righteous person. However, this does not stop God from showing up in his life.

As Jacob travels toward Haran, night falls, and he lays down to sleep under the stars. He uses a stone for a pillow, and as he dreams that night he sees a ladder, or a ramp, or a stairway, that reaches from heaven to earth, “and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it” (Gen. 28:12). Then, God stands beside Jacob and makes the same promises to him as he made to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham. God says, “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Gen. 28:15).

When Jacob awakes, he realizes that God is right there with him, and he didn’t even know it. Jacob renames the place “Bethel,” which means “house of God.” He also makes a commitment to serve the Lord as God, and to give a tenth of everything to the Lord.

Now, as you will discover if you keep reading in Genesis, Jacob does not then become a perfect person. However, this becomes the first of several experiences that change Jacob and draw him closer to God. When God shows up, things are never quite the same afterwards!

Those of you who are quite astute may have noticed that Jacob’s ladder shows up in the gospel reading that we heard today. In fact, Jesus says to Nathanael, “You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” (Jn. 1:51). In other words, Jesus himself has become the link between heaven and earth. And, God is going to show up for Nathanael just like he did for Jacob.

In fact, God shows up in the lives of Philip and Nathanael and Peter and Andrew, and life is never the same again for any of them. God shows up in the person of Jesus Christ, and calls them to come and follow and to come and see. All of these men become disciples of Jesus, learn from him, see his miracles, see his power to heal, and even see Jesus put to death on the cross. Above all, they see the risen Jesus, as he eats with them, talks with them and teaches them after he is raised from the dead.

While they may have been fishermen or had other occupations before meeting Jesus, every one of them ends up a preacher and teacher and leader in the early church. God shows up in Jesus of Nazareth and through the Holy Spirit, and life is never the same again.

Some of you may have seen the movie Forrest Gump, which came out a number of years ago now. In one part of the movie, Forrest has been praying for shrimp. He’s got the shrimp boat, and his first mate, Lieutenant Dan, but they can’t seem to catch any shrimp. One day when the nets have come up empty yet again, Lt. Dan says to Forrest, “Where is this God of yours?” As Forrest narrates the story, he says, “It’s funny Lt. Dan said that, because right then, God showed up.” The wind starts to blow and pretty soon they are out on the boat in the middle of a hurricane.

The whole time, Lt. Dan is up in the rigging just having it out with God. When the storm finally subsides, theirs is the only shrimp boat that survived the storm. As it turns out, Forrest’s prayers for shrimp are finally answered, and Lt. Dan finally makes his peace with God. God showed up, and things were never the same again.

I suspect that many of you have seen God show up at least once in your lives. It may have been in a dream. It may have been in a storm. It may have been in an answer to prayer or even in a miracle that you experienced. It may have been in a spiritual experience. It may have been at a time when you got some confirmation as to what God has in mind for you. However it happened, your life was never the same again.

Don’t be lulled into thinking, though, that God is done with showing up. God is not done with any of us yet, and continues to show up in our lives and in our world. The question is, are we open to it, and are we listening? Are we able to say with Samuel, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”? Are we able to say with Jacob, “Surely God is here, and I will worship him, and I will give a tenth of everything to him”? Are we able to say with Nathanael, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God!”? Are we open to the invitation to come and see?

God continues to live and move among us by the power of the Holy Spirit, and all those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will never be the same again. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Epiphany 2(B)      1 Samuel 3:1-20
January 18, 2009      John 1:43-51
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2009 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved