In I Samuel, God’s actions toward Eli and his family illustrate Yahweh’s relationship with Israel. He says, through a man of God, to Eli, “Those who honour me I honour in my turn, and those who despise me will be an object of contempt” (2:30). Eli and his family’s narrative, in my opinion, show the importance of personal accountability and free will in one’s relationship with God. While God is angry at Eli’s sons about their actions, he is even angrier, and thus more unforgiving, when Eli does nothing to correct their actions or stop them. Even though they were sinning against God, it still seems that God was willing to be somewhat lenient. However, Eli does nothing and God wills both of his sons to die on the same day. This, however, raises another question. If God knew that both of Eli’s sons were to die on the same day, was he also aware of the battle that would happen against the people of Israel? If so, why did he not warn or intervene in any way?
Another moment that illustrates God’s relationship with Israel occurs in II Kings, when King Josiah sends messengers to ask Yahweh about the book that was found in the Temple. God says that he will “bring disaster on this place and the people who live in it” (22:15). Despite this proclamation, however, he still shows kindness and grace towards Josiah. He says “when I gather your ancestors, you will be gathered in your grave in peace; you will not live to see the great disaster” (22:20). I think this moments shows that while God can hold on to and foresee his anger towards the people of Israel that have betrayed him, he still values individual commitment to worshiping him and his laws. This is further shown later in II Kings when Josiah has taken extensive action to re-commit the people to God. While God recognizes these actions, his anger still exists, which shows that while God values individual love and commitment, he also knows that one person’s commitment cannot and does not supersede the actions of all the people. Even if God had allowed Josiah’s actions to repatriate the wrongs done against him, it’s true that “[no] king like him arose again”, and God knew that it wouldn’t last.
Emma Ackerley 
I like the questions you bring up in response to the story of Eli and his sons. Additionally, as with the examples you talked about, I feel that a good part of the readings was about the Israelites disappointing God and God’s anger with them. As you mentioned with both examples, there is a difference between the levels of lenience He will show towards the Israelites for different wrongdoings.
LikeLike