Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Eli and His Sons,”

pp. 575–580, and “The Presumption of Saul,” pp. 616–626, in

Patriarchs and Prophets.

Submission to God’s will comes as we die to our own desires and

ambitions. This opens the way for true service to others. We cannot live

for God without becoming sacrifices and living in continual openness

to God’s voice. For us truly to submit our wills to our Father’s will, we

must recognize the dangers of relying on ourselves and on substitutes

for God’s Word and power. As submission to God’s will is at the heart

of a Christlike life, God may allow crucibles to teach us dependence

on Him.

“The neglect of Eli is brought plainly before every father and mother

in the land. As the result of his unsanctified affection or his unwilling-

ness to do a disagreeable duty, he reaped a harvest of iniquity in his

perverse sons. Both the parent who permitted the wickedness and the

children who practiced it were guilty before God, and He would accept

no sacrifice or offering for their transgression.”—Ellen G. White, Child

Guidance, p. 276.

Discussion Questions:

Ê As a class, talk about the incredible condescension of the Son

of God in coming to earth as a human being in order to die for

our sins. What does this tell each of us about what self-sacrifice

and self-denial for the good of others means? Though we certainly

can’t do anything like what Jesus did, the principle is there and

should always be before us. In what ways can we, in our own

spheres, emulate the kind of submission and self-sacrifice that

Jesus showed us at the cross?

Ë For many people, submitting to God without knowing what

will happen next can be a terrifying thing. How would you coun-

sel people who are relying on themselves rather than God? What

would you say to help remove their fears of not knowing—or being

able to control—the future?

Ì As a class, spend some time praying for people you know who

have difficulty in submitting to God’s will, that they may see that

trusting God’s will is the only route to a lasting peace. At the same

time, what practical things can you do for these people to help

them see that they can surrender to God and that His way is the

best? In other words, how can God use you to help others know of

His love and willingness to provide?