The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Samuel 5:1-3, “Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

3 When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again.”

Sometimes we get more than we’ve bargained for. The Philistines had struck a heavy

blow on the Israelites. The LORD had allowed it because of the sin of Eli, Israel’s priest.

The Israelites had moved the Ark of the LORD into the midst of the soldier, thinking that

the presence of the LORD would assist them in the battle. But, the Philistines won, and

captured the Ark. Bad news for Israel. Worse news for the Philistines! They put the

Ark in the house of the pagan god Dagon, their fish god. When the morning came, the

Image of Dagon had fallen on its face in the presence of the Ark. Now, what to do???

Pitiful is the people who have to prop up their gods. Israel was a long way from the

coming Jesus, whom we know as LORD and Savior. Further away still, were the

Philistines. When Israel’s sin (largely because of Eli’s failure to control his evil sons)

was dealt with through the Phiistines’ victory, the LORD then punished the Philistines

with a punishment all His own! The moral of all of this is that the LORD can and will

support and protect us –personally and nationally– but only when we are right with

Him. Remember that all gods are destined to fall before the LORD. Whose side do

you want to be on?

Love to you all and prayers daily for your spiritual stability,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”