1 Samuel 4: 21-22 “21 And she called the boy #I.e. No gloryIchabod, saying, ‘The glory has departed from Israel,’ because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, ‘The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken.’”

MISTAKEN STRENGTH

This story is so sad.  Not so much because of the death of Eli and his sons or the defeat of Israel.  It’s sad because they had placed their hope of defeating the Phillistines in the ark and NOT in God.  They thought the ark was magical or had inherent powers.  The ark was the symbol of God’s presence among the people, but it held no powers itself.

They had to learn the hard way that their strength was in God.  God would only strengthen what was yielded to Him, and they weren’t.  They were doing what they wanted.  Eli wasn’t leading them well.  He was allowing his sons to make a mockery of their faith.  God was not a part of their life, except in name alone.

TEACHING MOMENT

This is a wonderful story to read to your children when they are crying out to God to “rescue” them from some self-inflicted consequence.  We tend to want to live our lives our way and then ask God to step in and relieve the pain.  Our children need to learn it doesn’t work that way.

Living a yielded life and allowing Him to guide is the only way to truly experience His power.  As we confess our weakness and inability to live the Christ Life, He can live through us to produce in us what He wants.  Only then can we understand His strength in our lives.

Are you putting your hope in an “ark”?  Are you relying on something to save you that you think has power?  Stop it!  Let God show you His strength as you bow to Him in humility and confession.  Oh, brother and sister, let Him be your ALL.  He is, you know.

Thank you, Lord, for being my strength. Thank you, Lord, for being my All in All!