I Samuel 4:18
“The Message – At the words, ‘Chest of God,’ Eli fell backward off his stool where he sat next to the gate. Eli was an old man, and very fat. When he fell, he broke his neck and died. He had led Israel forty years.”
“When the Messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark of God, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and overweight. He had been Israel’s judge for forty years.”
God’s call came late to Eli. Verse 15 tells us Eli was 98 years old when he died. Here we learn he led Israel for 40 years. He was 48 years old when he became Israel’s spiritual leader. As much as Eli accomplished in his early years, marriage, family, priestly occupation, his greatest contribution to posterity was yet to come. God’s biggest purpose for us may be borne out of the wisdom of age, not a robust youth. It is hard to balance life’s necessity for planning with waiting upon God. Living is linear, but God sees it all a piece. The walk of faith asks that we learn to reconcile the two and gracefully bend with God’s perfect timing.
Lord, given my physical problems it is easy to think my life is mostly over. But you may call me to many more productive years. The thought is both exciting and fatiguing. The idea of pushing my decrepit body through a couple more decades is dreadful. Yet I trust you for the strength and joy to do the work you call me to. Please give me the sticking power to see your purpose through to the end.