Ark of God

After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. ² Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. ³ When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. ⁴ But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. ⁵ That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.
⁶ The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.^{[a] 7} When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” ⁸ So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?”
They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.
⁹ But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.^{[b] 10} So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.
As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” ¹¹ So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it^[c] will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. ¹² Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

This passage really reminds me of:
"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.", from Exodus 14:14!

Even though Israel lost the battle and the ark was captured, the ark of God still reigned supreme and judged the Philistines. The mere possession of the ark caused the Philistines great pains: tumors, fallen gods and idols and many more.

Though they lost, God's judgement is apparent and effective upon the philistines. This really shows that our God is the only God in heaven and He is all powerful. Just like Dagon and the rest, all other gods do not wield the same power as God, seen from this story. Where was Dagon when God inflicted damage upon Philistines? No where.

I like it how the passage describes the amount of effort the Philistines put in to keep the ark within their possession. They moved it from city to city and the effect is the same.

In the end, after they gave up, they returned the ark to its rightful owner. Even presented offerings of gold to God.

Sometimes we forgot who God is, just like the philistines, disbelief have corrupted our hearts.