DEALING WITH GOD

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 1-5

"At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek. The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it[a] will save us from our enemies.” So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake! “What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived, they panicked. “The gods have[b] come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before! Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness. Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!” 1 Samuel 4:1-9 NLT

This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture that deals with our enemy--and his fear of our great, big God!

If you take a minute or two to read these nine verses, you will see...

1.That the enemy is scared to death of God.

2. That the enemy knows God's track record.

3. That the enemy knows when God steps on the scene, their defeat is inevitable.

4. That the enemy cannot afford to lose us, we're his slaves.

The thing is, we know as much as the enemy knows--and yet, we don't live like we believe it.

We think the enemy is too powerful for us--wrong!

We think the victories of God are limited to Bible times and Bible people--wrong!

We think that this time God might not follow through--wrong!

We think that when we choose sin we remain in control of the enemy, we hold the reins, we are in the driver's seat--wrong!

Friends, I think it would serve us well to believe at least as much about our God as the enemy does!