The
Philistines were ignorant about how they should appease the God of Israel whom
they had offended. So, they consulted their equally ignorant priests and
diviners. The advice they got was for them to make five golden tumors and five
golden mice as an offering, and send them together with the Ark to its place.
They didn’t even know where to send the Ark to. But why five golden tumors and
five golden mice? It’s because they represented the five cities governed by
five lords. So, the Philistines acted accordingly and made them. Sending the
gold reminds us of what also took place in the exodus from Egypt. The people of
Israel also left with much gold from their Egyptian oppressors. This time what
they would receive came from the Philistines.
Interestingly,
in verse 6 we see an allusion to the exodus from Egypt. They obviously knew of
the humiliation the Egyptians had to suffer, all because Pharaoh hardened his
heart against God. The counsel to the Philistines was to send the Ark away and
resist God no more. So that they would not end up like the Egyptians who had
resisted the hand of God and eventually suffered even more. Like the Egyptians
who sent the people away, they should also send the Ark away. What all these
tell us is that no one can resist God and avoid being scorched. This is a
timely reminder to us that the best way to respond to God’s dealing is a
collaboration and not resistance.
The
advice of the priests and diviners reveals their ignorance. The counsel given
to the people was tentative at best. It was a guessing game. They weren’t even
sure of their counsel. The whole idea was to get two milch cows, break them
from their usual routine and conclude from the way they would respond to test of
putting the Ark toward Beth-shemesh. Milch cows were raised to provide milk for
their calves. In this test, the milch cows would be taken away from their
calves to pull a new cart with the Ark and golden objects for the guilt
offering. If they pulled that cart toward Beth-shemesh according to what they
wanted them to do, then they could conclude that their calamities came from
God. If the two cows refused to pull the cart towards Beth-shemesh but instead
followed its mother’s instinct and went searching for their calves, that would
be a signal to them that God had no part in their affliction. What a foolish
way to seek guidance!
Thankfully
for us, God always gives us clear and definitive guidance. We can trust Him
unreservedly and continually cultivate a right relationship with Him. We must
adopt the right attitude and approach, to know how to please Him in every
moment of life. His guidance is readily available. His promise to us in Psalm
32:8 is, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I
will counsel you with My eye upon you.” What we need to do is firstly, to stay
in right relationship with God. Secondly, we need to come to His Word
frequently and diligently to study and meditate on it. Thirdly, we come
depending on the illumination of the Holy Spirit to make clear God’s direction
to us through His Word. Finally, we are to act obediently on His instructions.
Then we will be consumed by His presence and peace! There is no need to seek
any other guidance!
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