HAPPY NEW YEAR!
“Year of the Rat” begins on February 7th, but we had our celebration this past Sunday. It was fun---special service, potluck after, bingo, kid’s craft, even a little “lucky money” in a red envelope. The “lucky money” usually goes to the young and cute, so I actually didn't do too well in that department.
“Year of the Rat,” huh? Wow, any good rat accounts in the Bible? Well, there is one memorable one—a tragic and bizarre chapter in the history of God’s Old Testament people. Through the book of 1 Samuel, God teaches us about a time when His people Israel fought against the Philistines. Here are some highlights:
So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh, his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry. Eli heard the outcry and asked, "What is the meaning of this uproar?" The man hurried over to Eli, who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes were set so that he could not see. He told Eli, "I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day." Eli asked, "What happened, my son?" The man who brought the news replied, "Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had led Israel forty years. His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. As she was dying, the women attending her said, "Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention. She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"— because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.
What a sad and shocking event! After that, the Philistines took the ark into their false god Dagon’s temple. The next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They put him back up, but the same thing happened the next day. God caused tumors to appear on the people of that area. So they moved the ark away to a different city. An outbreak of tumors occurred in that city as well. After 7 months, The Philistines had enough, and wanted to send the ark back to Israel. Here is where we get to the rats:
The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it back to its place." They answered, "If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you." The Philistines asked, "What guilt offering should we send to him?" They replied, "Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land.
Well now, there’s something you don’t see every day: a cart full of gold tumors and gold rats! Strange! Well, as you scratch your head over this one, don’t let an important lesson drop through the floorboards of your oxcart.
This entire mess was due to poor thinking and faithless action. Initially, when the Israelites were losing the battle to their enemy, they figured it was because God wasn’t with them—God wasn’t behind them in any sense. The Israelites appropriately assessed that they lacked God’s presence. But by grabbing the ark of the covenant and treating it as some religious trinket or good-luck-charm that would guarantee their victory was faithless. Such is the action of the superstitiously mindless. That was a pagan thing to do.
While we might like to quickly shake our heads at the Israelites, the devil tempts us to do similar things. Using prayer as a talisman cheapens said gift. If we only ever talk to God when we are in dire straights and try to use prayer as a magic charm, we dishonor God. Our attempts at “bartering” with God are embarrassing. Prayers that begin this way, “If you just help me through this, Lord, I’ll try harder to be good and . . .” try to turn God into a customer at a used car lot. It’s as if we are saying, “What do I have to do . . . to get you to help me out of this jam . . . today?!” I’ve even had people ask me to bless cross necklaces. Could the symbol of heavenly love really give protection better than the Giver of every good and perfect gift?
For such mistrust and mistakes, the Savior came and died. Jesus’ faith-life never contained any bargaining attempts. You and I get credit for that. Jesus did everything to make you right with God and you are. You ARE. It didn’t take a sacrifice of gold tumors and gold rats, either. The sacrifice demanded was God’s own Son, our Savior.
With the renewed assurance of sins forgiven, we begin the “Year of the Rat” on a fresh and happy note. We are so thankful for God’s love, evidenced by everything Jesus did for you and me. We learn from past losses and re-dedicate ourselves to trust and believe God. We do so without bargaining, bartering, or treating faith or symbols like good luck charms. God bless your new year, faith family! I know he will.
Prayer idea: Pray for Peace In Jesus. Please pray that God’s powerful Word will make an impact in the hearts of many. Pray for your family members, near and far. Pray for specific challenges in the faith lives of those you care most about.
Have a great week!
--Pastor Dan
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