I am reading through 1 Samuel now and Samuel as a character always draws me in. His “calling” is what his mother says it is. He grew up with a fixed duty. It’s offensive to our Western sense of the individual. That was just the world in which Samuel lived.

What stands out to me in this story as I read through Samuel’s upbringing (this time around) is how Samuel is set in place in a time when Israel is in absolute chaos. Eli and his sons are priests and doing a horrible job of it. The time of the judges has devolved to anarchy and immense violence.

It’s a beautiful message to know that in the midst of Israel’s worst time there are two brilliant stories of God working: Ruth and Samuel.

Neither one becomes someone “highly influential” in their day. Samuel’s “circuit” was relatively small.

In our day when chaos seems to be the norm and we keep witnessing bigger and bigger cases of spiritual corruption in the American church, there is still good news. God still sets aside in the small places, places “unknown,” places where “large platforms” and “influencers” matter little, the Ruths and Samuels for his purpose. Their walk with God isn’t based on “size of platform.” It’s about obedience.

They learn to hear God’s voice and walk in his path. They learn to discern. They learn to obey. They learn to walk in love and truth.

In a day when we look to the “influencers” and “big platforms”… there will be a Ruth or Samuel somewhere speaking or writing or singing some powerful truth that will mean a lot to their sphere of influence, but probably not much beyond that in their lifetime. But we need these Ruths and Samuels in our lives.

Look away from the big platforms for a season. Listen up for the voices that sing, teach, or the hands that write or paint or sculpt truth and love. That will be a time you encounter a Ruth or Samuel… and life will flow into you.

This is what needed in our chaotic time.