I Would Never, I Think

And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.” So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. (‭I Samuel‬ ‭4‬:‭3-4, 10-11‬ NKJV)

We are unable to make God be or do what we want God to be or do.

God is going to be who God is.  His character, nature, and word does not change.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Because we know this to be true, it is a foolish thing to try and manipulate God.  The Israelites had lost a battle.  They were trying to figure out what to do to win the battle the next day.  There response was to bring the Ark, the very presence of God, into battle with them.  Surely they would win the battle if they brought God with them. Never mind they didn’t ask God what He wanted them to do.  Never mind it was a horrible idea.  Never mind you can never manipulate God into doing what you want Him to do.  The results were devastating, and not only was their loss of life, they lost the Ark.

How does this correlate today? We don’t carry the Ark into battle, but we carry the Bible, the very Word of God.  How does that correlate?  We go into our personal battles with verses taken completely out of context! We try to manipulate the Word of God to mean, be, and do something it was not intended to do.  What is the danger?  It is a wrong! It makes God look bad because we are claiming He is going to be or do something He never intended to do.  It causes people to question their faith in Him because we are making claims that aren’t true.

What is the answer?  Be someone who knows the Word of God.  Be someone who studies the Word of God.  Be someone who trusts and stands for truth and righteousness.  Be an ambassador for right interpretation, and not selfish interpretation.

So many times I think we read an old testament story, and we think it has no application to us because we would never take the Ark of the Covenant into battle against the Philistines.  There is no Ark, and we have no idea who the Philistines are.  So what does this story mean to me?  All scripture is alive and active.  According to 2 Timothy 3:14-17

14But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.