Sun.’s Devo - God is Bigger!

Read: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:17; John 6:1-21; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 14:32-33 The Philistines took the Ark of God and placed it in their temple to Dagon. They must have thought they would get along but they fought at night and the Ark won every time. God tore off the arms and head of Dagon and left them at the door and then his spirit went out and brought tumors to the people. It was like the angel of death moving across Israel. When the people realized what was happening, they sent the Ark of the Lord to the town of Gath. When they began to get rumors also, they sent the Ark to the town of Ekron. When the people of Ekron saw the Ark coming they cried out and begged the rulers to send the Ark back to Israel before it killed them all. The Ark had been with the Philistines for 7 months. The rulers called for the priests and diviners to ask them how they should send the Ark back. They told hthem they must send a gules offering with it. They suggested sending 5 golden tumors and 5 golden mice. There must have been an infestation of mice that caused the tumors. They made the golden gifts and were told to put the Ark on a new cart and to find two cows that had just given birth to calves. They were to put the babies in a pen and hook the mothers who had never worn a harness to the cart. If the cart went to Israel, they would know they were on the right track. Mother cows would never leave their baby calves or let anyone harness them to a cart so the whole thing was supernatural. The cows went straight to Beth-shemesh (“house of the sun”) where the Israelites were harvesting their wheat making it the time of Pentecost. Pentecost is the time of the Holy Spirit coming to the church in the New Testament so here was the presence of the Lord returning to Israel. The cart went to the field of Joshua and stopped beside a large rock. That could read, “The presence of the Lord went to the ones saved by Jesus and stood beside Him.” The people of Beth-shemesh gave sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord that day. The five Philistine rulers watched all this from afar. Seventy of the men of Beth-shemesh looked into the box of the Ark and died, so they sent messengers to Kiriath-jearim to come and get the Ark. They kept it for 20 years. Israel felt like the Lord had abandoned them so Samuel told them what to do to return to the Lord. He told them to get rid of all their foreign gods and their images of Asgtoreth and to thur to Him with all their hearts. Then he would deliver them from the Philistines. Samuel called them to Mizpah and made a sacrifice to the Lod. The Philistines came to attack them but the Lord spoke with such a loud thunder that the Philistines were thrown into confusion and the Isralites defeated them. This marked the beginning of Israel’s return to power. Samuel continued being their judge until he died. He set up courts in Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah and Ramah. In John, it was Passover season so all the men of Israel were coming to Jerusalem to celebrate. Many brought their whole families. Jesus was teaching on a mountainside and there were 5,000 who sat listening. Jesus asked Philip where he could find bread to feed the people. Philip must have thought Jesus had lost his mind. Andrew spoke up and said there was a little boy who had 5 barley loves and two fish. Jesus told them to tell everyone to sit down. Jesus took the loaves and thanked his Father then started districting them to the people. Ht did the same with the fish until everyone was fed. They picked up the leftovers and had 12 baskets full. The people were so amazed they were ready to make Jesus their king so he slipped away. When Jeuss didn’t return, the disciples got into their boat to cross to Capernum. A storm came up and the sea. After fighting it to no avail they looked up and saw Jesus walking toward them on the sea. He told them not to be afraid and when he stepped into the boat, their boat was immediately on the other side. Lord, you meet all of our needs and you deliver us to the other side of whatever storm we are in. May our lives be clear of idols and anything that doesn’t please you. You are bigger than all the gods of the earth and all of our problems.