Testing God

Then they put the ark of the Lord on the cart, along with the box containing the gold mice and the images of their tumors. 1 Samuel 6:11 HCSB

Have you ever felt guilty about something you did? Have you ever wondered if negative consequences were a result of your disobedience or not doing what you knew was right? We have all sinned and the consequences of our sin can sometimes be hard and painful.

The Philistines had experienced the consequences of their sins for seven months and wondered if it was the result of them having the Ark of God in their possession. The priests and diviners devised a plan to see if the Lord of the Ark of God had actually caused the tumors and recent problems or if it was just a coincidence. The plan was to yoke two female cows that had just had calves to a cart with the Ark of God and then pen up the calves. The natural instinct of the cows would be to stay with their calves. Therefore, if the Lord of the Ark of God was more powerful than the natural instincts of the cows, the cows would return to the land of Beth-shemesh with the Ark of God. They would then know that the recent problems had come from the God of the Israelites. They sent a guilt offering of gold rats and images of the tumors they had experienced in hope that the Lord of the Ark of God would have mercy on them and remove the problems they had been experiencing.

Challenge: Do not put God to a test. Read God’s Word and pray to know His plan and will for your life. Always honor, respect, and worship God alone. Seek to do what is right in His eyes.

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