We all want to know who’s winning at a game we find interesting. We all have our battles. Whether we win or lose may largely be due to activities behind the scenes.
The story of Israel in 1 Samuel chapters 4 and 5 comes to mind. They had won battles, conquered armies and had quite a reputation as a result. So reading the account about their resounding defeat from the Philistine army was tough. Thousands lay dead. When one suffers, do we not all suffer since we are all connected in the great circle of life?
What had gone wrong then? Had Israel taken victory for granted or is this just a case of “bad” stuff happening to “good” people? There didn’t seem to be any apparent reason for the loss. So, it may be in what is not easily seen. Had God deserted them?
Reading further, we discover that the Philistines captured the ark, a symbol of God’s presence with Israel, and took it with them. Big mistake. In keeping what was not theirs to keep, the Philistines brought trouble on themselves. Instead of prospering, men died. Seems like the fight wasn’t over after all, only settings and locations changed.
At the end, the Philistines left with no choice, returned the ark. They got more than they had bargained for. Victory was a bitter taste and at a great cost to them. Who’s really winning?
Winning just because…
Photo by Sebastian Voortman from Pexels
FINAL THOUGHTS ON WINNING
Great care and preparations are necessary to winning battles. It can be so easy to take things for granted. Assumptions can hurt us.
Oh and yes, we do win, just because of who is pulling the strings on our behalf, from behind the scenes.
“For in Him we live and move, and have our being.”
Acts 17:28
If you would like to read the full account, then click here.
Thanks for this. If we look carefully, there is always victory from the lessons learnt from defeats. KK.
Oh yeah KK. Thank you.