One last test.
Yes, that is what is happening in the middle of 1 Samuel chapter 6. The Philistines have had it with the art of God (the symbol of God's presence on earth). The art has brought nothing but trouble, and yet even as they send it back they are testing God. They take two cows who have calves and have never had a yoke placed on them and let them return the ark of God on a cart. A note here cows don't like being separated from their young and second, a cow or any animal has to be taught (broken) so that they know how to work with a yoke. Finally, there isn't just one untrained cow but two. What should have happened was the cow would bolt and the cart, the ark, and everything in it when flying. However, God wasn't through showing his power.
God passed this final test. The cows took the Ark straight back to the Israelites, proving to the Philistines that God was greater.
The story should have ended in rejoicing, but the Israelites at Bethshemesh disobeyed God. They tried looking on the ark and to open it. God had told Israel not to do this and what should have been a time of rejoicing turned into sorry as God punished Israel for a crime greater than the Philistines. Why was it greater? They should have known better.
Another note of sadness in this was that the Philistines had God is their midst, saw his power, and sent him away.
Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash
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