The Philistines' defeated the Israelites and took the Ark of God from them.
They brought the Ark and set it by Dagon in Ashdod. But when the people of
Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the
earth before the Ark. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. But
when they arose early the next morning, they saw Dagon suffered an even greater
humiliation. Dagon was again fallen on its face to the ground before the Ark,
and this time, its head and hands were broken off; only its torso was left of
it. And besides this, the people were suffering extensively from a painful
disease called haemorrhoids (piles). The people of Ashdod were fearful of the
Ark of God; they didn’t want it to stay with them. They moved it to Gath
(v.1-8).
The Ark arrived in Gath. God plagued the people of Gath with very severe
haemorrhoids too. The people of Gath decided the Ark should not remain in them
too and sent it to Ekron. The people of Ekron had heard what the Ark did to
Ashdod and Gath. They were angry at the people of Gath: "They have brought about the ark of
the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people" (v.10).
The Philistines feared God but would not worship and submit to Him. They knew
His power. They tasted His wrath. They saw how God humiliated their god Dagon.
Still, they did not want Jehovah as their God. Why? In spite of all the
evidences that God showed to them to prove He is God like no one else, why did
the Philistines reject Him?
The Philistines were not the only ones that rejected God in spite the
evidences. Today, many see the hands of God in the creation: “The heavens declare the glory of
God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1). Still,
they do not want to worship and serve Him. Why?
The reason is simple: Because following the LORD means a huge change in
thinking and living. For the Philistines, it is easier to follow Dagon. Dagon
allows them to be themselves. Dagon allows them to live in the pleasures of
sin. Serving Jehovah means giving up their current lifestyle.
Indeed, following Jesus is a lifetime commitment. It involves a life change –
in word, thought, and deeds. Our Lord says: “If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
I have heard various reasons by some why they will not follow Jesus in spite
they know about Him. And top on the list is this: Not ready for commitment!
They don’t want to wake up early on Sundays to come to church. They say other
religions do not have this requirement. They also are not ready to change their
lives and thoughts about morality. Their religions allow them to be what they
want to be. They say our God controls the lives of those that follow Him.
Children think that their parents are controlling their lives and they hate it
too. But why do parents want to do that? Children will only know and understand
their parents’ actions when they become parents themselves. Our wise God says:
“But if ye be without
chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons”
(Hebrews 12:8).
Bastards are illegitimate children. They are cast off and disregarded by their
fathers. They do not have their fathers to discipline and instruct them. As a
result, they become wayward children. A father, who is worthy of the name, will
do everything for the good of his children.
God is a loving and worthy Father who wants us to go to heaven. Therefore, He
shows us how to get there. And one necessary step is we must remove our sins.
Sin causes us to miss heaven. Therefore, He leads us into the path of holiness:
“For they verily for a few
days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we
might be partakers of his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10).
Our journey here is preparing us to go to heaven. It is a little price to pay
for the eternal bliss. Do you want to go to heaven?
No comments:
Post a Comment