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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is following in God’s path. The Philistines forcefully kept the Ark of God which was the symbol of God’s covenant and presence among the Israelites. Just like the Egyptians suffered different plagues when they refused to liberate the Israelites, the Philistines also suffered from tumors and mice that ravaged their land as long as they kept the Ark of God (1 Samuel 6:5)

The Philistines realized that they could not contend with God so they decided to follow in God’s path. “.. They put the ark of the LORD on the cart and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors. And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh… The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the box that was beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the LORD. And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron. These are the golden tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the LORD:” 1 Samuel 6:11-12,14-17)

The lesson deduced from today’s reflection is that the path of disobedience leads to sin and suffering but following God’s path by being repentant and obedient to Him enables us to experience God’s mercy and healing from the ramifications of disobedience or sin. Had the Philistines remain disobedient and stubborn by holding on to the Ark of God they would have perished miserably but once they repented and did the needful by returning the Ark of God and adding a guilt offering which was sacrificed on their behalf, God healed them and ended their agony. The invitation to you and through you to others is that, let us accept Jesus as God’s guilt offering so that we may be cleansed and our sins forgiven. Anyone perishing in sin is invited to follow in God’s path of salvation. Jesus is now the Ark of God in our lives, with Him God is present in our lives and we are saved from the plagues that sin may bring upon our lives. Follow in God’s path so that you “…may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) Shalom

PRAYER

Loving Father,we acknowledge that we are ignorant therefore let the Holy Spirit continually lead us to follow in your path so that we may continually grow in wisdom and be beneficiaries of your grace and salvation. Amen