I Samuel 4:3 “And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us today before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.”
I Samuel chapters 4-5 tell the story of Israel’s battles with the Philistines during the time of Samuel. At the first battle, Israel’s army was soundly defeated. Instead of looking at their own lives for the reason for the loss, they looked for a good luck charm! The elders said, “Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh . . . that . . . it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.” They were more concerned about an object (the ark of God) than the God of the object!
Of course, with the ark’s return, Israel was expecting victory as the Philistines were braced for defeat. Ironically, the exact opposite happened! Israel was defeated again-and the Philistines even took the ark back with them. The pagans figured Israel’s good luck charm could only help their wicked causes thereafter. The Israelites were more distraught about losing their “good luck charm” (the ark) than they were about living without the blessing and favor of God!
Truthfully, Israel treated God just like the Philistines did-like a “good luck charm.” There is a danger in limiting God to places, human methods, or historical successes. When you put God “in a box,” you limit a God that is unlimited! Sometimes, we show God the very same lack of reverence we find in I Samuel. Often we are concerned if God is on our side; we should be concerned if we are on God’s side.
There is a fundamental difference between pleasing God and appeasing God. God is not some “good luck charm” you use to manipulate your life. No sir, you do not appease God in order to control Him; you please God by letting Him control you. In other words, when you were saved, you received all of the Holy Spirit that you will ever get. The question is, does He have all of you?
God Almighty does not want to be appeased by what you can give Him; He wants to be pleased by what He does through you. Both Israel and the pagan Philistines treated God like a “good luck charm.” Is your life the same way, seeking to appease God? Are you pleasing Him by letting Him have complete control?