Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

Answered Prayer – the Ark Comes Home Read 1Samuel 6:1–7:1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD. 1 Samuel 7:1 Have you ever prayed and prayed and wondered whether God would ever answer your prayer? When the Ark was captured God’s people must have been horrified. Never before had such a thing happened to the Ark. It remained in Philistine territory for seven whole months (v 1)! Month after month, the Israelites must have prayed anxiously till they gave up all hope. Every single day of those seven months the Ark was feared and revered by its enemy because of the hand of God. The Philistines were desperate to find a way to return the Ark to Israel. Contrast this situation with the time when they were so triumphant at its capture. They fearfully offered gold models of the tumors and the mice for atonement of their sins They were mindful of the God who miraculously freed the Israelites from bondage to the Egyptians (v 6). What a joyful sight for the people of Beth Shemesh when they saw the Ark returning by itself, brought back by cows! An amazing answer to prayer! The Philistines were relieved too because the fact that the cows headed straight for Beth Shemesh was confirmation for them that the tumors were not coincidental but God’s intention and punishment for them. From then onwards, they knew that all their health problems were over. They learnt to fear God. The Israelites too had to learn to fear God. That joyful day turned to mourning when 70 Israelites died because they tried to look inside the Ark, probably out of mere curiosity, puzzled at how it could ‘take care’ of itself. They had forgotten the mighty power of their God. Persistence in prayer delights God. Is there someone you have been praying for, for whom you have almost given up hope? Keep on praying.