WEDNESDAY November 7, 2018
Recognizing the Presence of God
Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard it.Then she named the child Ichabod,saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!”
Eli’s daughter-in-law, on hearing the terrible news of Israel’s defeat, the Ark of God being captured, and the death of her father-in-law and her husband, went into labor. Tragically, after giving birth to her son, she too would die. Her last words named her newborn––Ichabod, an expression for the deep regret of God’s glory departing from Israel.
The glory of God departed all because of Israel’s disobedience.How sad and terrible for the presence of God to depart from the nation of Israel. The Ark of the Covenant was where God’s presence dwelt among His people. Imagine, God would no longer to do a work among His people as long as the enemy had the Ark of the Covenant.
I believe there is a tremendous lesson to be learned from these Scriptures. God allowed the Philistines to take the Ark of the Covenant, and, for a time, He gave them an opportunity to repent. The Philistines should have recognized the presence of the Lord dwelling among them, as they had the Ark of the Covenant in the temple of their god.
What about each one of us? Everyone in their life-time will have the opportunity to come and know God and have His presence in their life.
A right understanding of the Bible opens to us the only path into the presence of God.
~A. W. Tozer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!