Today as I was reading today’s suggested readings, the passage from 1 Samuel really jumped out to me. Listen to what we are told today in 1 Samuel 5: 1-5:
1 When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod; 2then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon. 3When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4But when they rose early on the next morning, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
The Ark was taken was brought into the temple of Dagon, the pagan god of the people. This was an act to show that God was inferior to their god. The people of that part of the world did not disbelieve in the God of Israel, they just believed that He was inferior to their “gods.” So, they brought the Ark into their temples to show just that.
But then, what happened? We see that twice the statue to Dagon falls down before the Lord. And this terrified the people. They saw the power of God in a way that they were not expecting and were not ready for. God was demonstrating that He alone was God, and all other idols were inferior to Him.
This act, which the people thought would show the weakness of the Lord, instead showed His power and might. There is no one, nothing that is superior to Lord. He is God alone.
For us today, this is a great reminder to us. The “gods” of this age are not superior to the Lord. Nothing can measure up against God’s power and might. Nothing is as strong as the Lord. So, whom shall we fear? What shall we fear?
No one. Nothing. The Lord is God. Rejoice! Trust! Beleive! Hope!
No matter what you are facing today, know this. The Lord is bigger. The Lord is stronger. The Lord has it. Trust in Him. You will not be disappointed.
As John tells us in 1 John 4:4:
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Our God is greater than all that is the world. Nothing can measure up against Him. Do not fear. Do not doubt. Trust.
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