By Olubunmi Adebayo
*The two sons of Prophet Eli were typical examples of people who engaged in the misuse of power and position.*
*Hophni and Phinehas used the office of their father as the High Priest of the nation of Israel, to occupy juicy priestly positions and went ahead to execute personal gain and exploitation with the position they occupied.*
*Please read the narration in some details :*
*1 Samuel 2: [12] Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.*
*[13]And the priests’ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;*
*[14]And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.*
*[16]And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.*
*[17]Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.*
*Instead of serving God faithfully by leading the people to offer acceptable sacrifices unto God, they joined hands together to extort the people of God heartlessly :*
*Instead of allowing the people to give the breast and thigh of a sacrifice to the priest after the fat had been burned to God as stipulated by the laws of God through Moses, they send their servants to forcefully collect the meat from the people – who genuinely came to God to offer their heart-felt sacrifice.*
*The result was that the people who came to offer sacrifices ended up :*
*1 Samuel 2: [17]….. “abhorred the offering of the LORD”.*
*Hophni and Phinehas didn’t stop at this, they went ahead…*
*1 Samuel 2:[22]…. “they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation”.*
*Can you imagine the two using their priestly offices to sleep with the wives and the daughters of other people that came to meet with God? And because of the conduct of these two sons of Eli, people started hating to come to God’s presence.*
*My question for you today is this : are you not using your office or position for the exploitation of the people? Is your position of influence which should be used for service not being used for personal gain? Is your authority not being compromised in misuse?*
*I hope you can still recollect the gravity of the consequences of the actions of Hophni and Phinehas on the nation of Israel?*
*A) The Ark of God was captured by the enemy.*
*B) Hophni and Phinehas died the same day at the battle front.*
*C) Their father – Eli at the age of 98 on hearing the news of the capture of the Ark fell backward, broke his neck and died same day.*
*D) A daughter in law of Eli (the wife of Phineas) on hearing the news forcefully went into labour, delivered and died thereafter.*
*_A to D above because of the misuse of position and power of just twe people_.*
*Please for the purpose of you that is reading this – let this constantly be ringing in your ears, that :*
*1 Corinthians 4:[2] “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”.*
*Unto God, and men, how faithful is your stewardship?*
*Always remember, if men do not see you doing what you are doing, the eye of God surely does.*
Top of the day to you 👍.
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
