“Now build a new cart, and find two cows that have just given birth to calves. Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart. Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen. Put the Ark of the LORD on the cart, and beside it place a chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors you are sending as a guilt offering. Then let the cows go wherever they want. If they cross the border of our land and go to Beth-shemesh, we will know it was the LORD who brought this great disaster upon us. If they don’t, we will know it was not his hand that caused the plague. It came simply by chance.” [1 Samuel 6.7-9]
I love this story. I liken it to a later OT story when Elijah prepared a sacrifice to God before the prophets of Baal and drenched it with water before God consumed it in fire from heaven.
Elijah's belief in God was one thing - as he served and followed God. But the Philistines were a different story! They had no relationship with God whatsoever and still they gave themselves the chance to acknowledge Him as Sovereign. Anyone who has ever been around cows knows that momma cow is not going to leave her calf! And, it wasn't just one cow with calf, but two!
In our world of reason and knowledge, we simply cannot get our minds around such superstitious activity. The fact that I would use the term "superstitious" reveals my own opinion of it...
Herein is a widespread plague upon modern society: we really don't believe God controls everything. Boom! There, I said it! Instead, we use words like "superstition" to describe any practice contrary to our advanced knowledge and enlightenment. The modern Church suffers from this unbelief as much or more than anyone.
Is it any wonder we do not witness God's miraculous power (especially) in our advanced societies?
God is either in control of everything or He is not. And, if He is not, then He is not God and certainly not worthy of our devotion. "Church," where is your voice on this?
Father, help me to live a life of genuine faith in You as Ruler of All.
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