Good Morning Friends,
The Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant
in the battle against Israel. They defeated the God of Israel, proving that
their god (Dagon) was stronger than Israel’s God. At least that’s what they
thought! The capture of the Ark was God’s discipline upon Israel, but He also
used it as an opportunity to reveal Himself and His power to the Philistines.
They took the Ark to Ashdod and put it in the
temple of Dagon and each morning that it was there they found the idol to Dagon
fallen on its face before the Ark. On the second morning the idol had not only
fallen on its face but its head and hands had broken off. (1 Samuel 5:4) The
people of Ashdod were afflicted with tumors and under great distress. Instead
of turning to worship the Lord, the Philistines removed the Ark from Ashdod
took it to Gath.
In Gath the story was the same. The whole city
was thrown into a panic (1 Samuel 5:9). The people of Gath were also afflicted
with tumors. God was demonstrating His power. Again, the people of Gath did not
bow down to worship the Lord. Instead, they sent the Ark away from Gath to
Ekron.
As the Ark was entering Ekron the people cried
out, “They have brought the Ark of the God of Israel around to us to kill us and
our people.” (1 Samuel 5:10) That city, too, was filled with panic and its
people afflicted with tumors and death. They did not respond with worship, but
with a desire to get rid of the Ark.
In the end, the Philistines wanted the Ark out
of their country and sent gifts of gold with it to appease the Lord. They knew
God was not pleased with them and wanted to assuage their guilt before Him. When
they removed the Ark from their own territory they used a final test to be sure
it was the God of Israel who had afflicted them and not just chance. They put
the Ark on a cart attached to two cows and allowed it to go on its own. They
believed that if it went directly to Israel, then the God of Israel was
returning His Ark to His people and He had been responsible for their
affliction. Sure enough, as soon as they released the Ark it headed straight
toward Israel. (1 Samuel 6:12)
This was a season of grace for the Philistines.
It seemed like affliction, but it was really grace! God was giving them an
opportunity to recognize His power. He demonstrated Himself more powerful than
their idols. They could have submitted themselves to Him in worship. They chose
to ignore what He was revealing and send Him away! They missed their great
opportunity!
How many times have we missed God’s grace and
turned our back on Him?
His, by Grace, Steve
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