QT 10/26/2022 1 Sam 6:5-6, Believing the facts

1 Samuel 6:5–6 (ESV) —

5 So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land. 6 Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed?

 

NOTE: There is a lot going on in the verses 1-10. The ark had been in the country of the Philistines now 7 months. In the passage above we see that the Philistines are aware of the plagues upon the Egyptians, even though that happened almost 3 centuries ago. In the narrative, the seven months suggests that they thought the plague was by chance and would pass. Then they forcibly remove two cows from their unweaned calves, yoke them for the first time as a team, and see if they will head away from their babies and toward Israel, which they did, crying all the way. And lastly, if the plague goes away, then if all those things happen, it was not by chance but by the hand of the God of Israel. Everything they did was wrong -- the cart, the images of gold, consulting their religious persons (cults). But God, in his mercy, fulfilled everything they did to show them whose hand had been upon them. And the leaders followed from a distance, and returned to Ekron and did nothing. In other words, God's proof did nothing for them.

 

Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, died for crimes he did not commit, and rose again from the grave, ascending into heaven. All witnessed by hundreds and thousands. And today, people act as if nothing happened.

 

PONDER:

1. Jesus was a historical figure who thousands witnessed his life, hundreds witnessed his death, burial, and resurrection. Many went to their death rather than deny what they saw with their own eyes. Do we really believe what happened?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is the most important fact of history, the resurrection. I hang my hat on this historical event. It can't be ignored. It is my proof that there is life after death and that I will enjoy that new life someday.