Saved to Stand

History has shown even those who believe God exists and attribute power to Him often choose to reject Him.  The Egyptians realised the God of the Hebrews fought against them when suddenly their chariot wheels began falling off as they tried to pursue them through the Red Sea.  The testimony of Rahab in Jericho showed the miraculous, marvelous power of God had been voiced throughout the region with the plagues He poured out on Egypt, yet those in Jericho did not worship Him.  In a passage I read this morning, the Philistines believed the God of Israel was responsible for the deadly tumours and plague of mice that ravaged the land wherever the ark of God was carried, yet they continued to cling to their idol Dagon.  God's own people were guilty of forsaking the worship of God in their service to idols who never once saved them.

In a rather humorous way, the Bible describes what happened when the ark of God was captured and placed by the image of Dagon in the Philistine temple.  1 Samuel 5:3-5 says, "And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. ⁴ And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it. ⁵ Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day."  It is likely the image of Dagon had never toppled over until the ark of God was brought into his temple.  The irony is after Dagon fell over a second time and his head and hands broke off--leaving only a stump--the Philistine priests and people reverenced the threshold where Dagon fell rather than transferring their allegiance to the God before whom Dagon bowed.

Recently I viewed a clip of a hardened atheist who railed upon God for the suffering He allows people to endure, yet his worldview does not provide him or anyone else comfort from suffering in this supposedly godless world.  All the rage the fellow expressed remained impotent to redeem the past or provide a bright future for him:  so it is for all who make a covenant with death.  The amazing thing about the living God is He chose to come to earth as a man and suffer a bloody death at the hands of murderous humanity on the cross on Calvary so whosoever might believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead and ascension to heaven reveals His power over sin and death, and by faith in Him we have a living, enduring hope.  God demonstrated His love for us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us so we might live with Him.

The God who created mankind has suffered more rejection than everyone else combined, yet He remains gracious and loving towards us.  Despite people throughout the ages to this day who reverence rocks, stones and themselves over the true God, He stays faithful and is worthy to be praised.  Let us be numbered among those who cast aside our idols and wrath and faithfully cling to Him, for He able to set us back on our feet after we have fallen.  When we suffer, He draws us to Himself with words of comfort, love and peace.  He supports us, despite our wretchedness and folly, with His redemptive power and everlasting arms.  Psalm 20:6-8 expresses our great confidence in Christ:  "Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. ⁷ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. ⁸ They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright."