GOD IS IN CONTROL

PROCLAMATION

“And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart … and they laid the ark of The Lord upon the cart … and the kine took the straight way to the way of Beth-Shemesh … and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Beth-Shemesh.”  1 Samuel 6:10-12 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.   The people of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron had been afflicted with tumors because the Philistines had brought the ark of The Lord into their cities and they wanted it taken away.  The Philistines asked the priests and the diviners what to do with the ark and how should they send it back to Israel.  They were told to send it back along with a guilt offering of five gold tumors and five gold rats, one for each of the five rulers and cities which were stricken with the plagues.  They were told to put the ark on a new cart, hitched to two cows that had never been yoked, along with a chest containing the gold objects, and send it on its way. (1 Samuel 6:1-10)  They did as they were told and they watched the cows take the ark straight to the city of Beth Shemesh.  The people of Beth Shemesh rejoiced when they saw the ark.  The Levites took the ark and the people chopped up the cart and sacrificed the two cows as a burnt offering to The Lord.  The Philistines followed the cows at a distance and when saw this, they returned to Ekron. (1 Samuel 6:11-18)  The Lord God struck down seventy people of Beth Shemesh because they looked into the ark of God.  Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim to come and take the ark to their town. (1 Samuel 6:19-21)    

 

APPLICATION

The Lord God was in control and guided the two cows and the ark from the Philistine territory in Ekron to the Israelite city of Beth Shemesh.  Just as The Lord controlled and guided the cows, He can control and guide all of the other events and actions in this world.  The wind and the waves even obey His will. (Mark 4:39)  The people, however, are not robots and have the free will of choice regarding their behavior and beliefs. (John 3:16)  He wanted that all people would be saved, (1 Timothy 2:4) but He gave us the choice to accept Him or not.  Whosoever will, let him come to The Lord. (Revelation 22:17)