One Ark Two Results

1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 9 Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.” 10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

Why did the plans of the people of Israel fail? Why did God allow His people to be defeated even though they had the Ark of God on their side?

Key verse!

1 Samuel 4:3 ESV

3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.”

How did the elders of Israel recognize had defeated them? The Lord!

What was their solution? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord

Why was their solution doomed to fail? They were trying to manipulate God!

What are some ways we might attempt to manipulate God?

II. The Ark Crossed Over (Joshua 3)

Joshua 3:7–13 ESV

7 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’ ” 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. 13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”

Here we have another account in the history of the nation of Israel. And the Ark is a significant factor in the success or failure of the people. Only this time the presence of the Ark brings success and not failure. Why? What is the major difference from our last story?

In the story in Samuel what were the people attempting to do to God? Manipulate Him.

In the story of Joshua what were the people attempting to do to God? Obey Him!

Joshua 1:1–9 ESV

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Obedience to the will of God is what made the difference! God will not bless our efforts unless they are in faithful loving obedience to his commands!

But let’s finish the rest of the story of Joshua!

Joshua 3:14–16 ESV

14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.

When did the waters of the Jordan river stand up in a heap? When was the precise moment?

So did the waters stand up in a heap because God willed them to? Or did the waters stand up in a heap because the priests put literally feet of obedience to God’s command to step into the water?

Would the waters have stood up in a heap without the power of almighty God?

Would the water have stood up in a heap if the priests did not obey God?

There is a wonderful divine mystery of the sovereign power of God and the responsibility of man taught in this story.

We cannot do anything we want in life and expect to be able to manipulate God into doing what we want! We must be obedient to His will.

But, neither will God work through us until we do our part. Until we put feet of obedience to the will of God he will not bless!

But, what happens when God’s people faithfully and lovingly obey Him?

Joshua 3:17 ESV

17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

How can we apply this principle to our lives today?

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

What if we never dip our feet into the brink of the water as it were? What if we never put hands and feet of obedience to the will of God? What if we never purpose to GO and make disciples? What if we sit at home, and stay where it is comfortable and safe? What if we never leave the walls of our churches?

What if we attempt to force God to bless our church using our own ways?

1 Thessalonians 2:5 ESV

5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.

What are some ways that people have abandoned God’s way for building his church and making disciples? Have they drawn large crowds? Have they really made any disciples?

God fulfills his promises to his people through their obedience to His word.

Let’s love God, let’s be faithful, let’s obey.

How can you dip your feet into the brink of the water this week?

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