1 Samuel 6

The road to there

And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us—it happened to us by chance.” ~ 1 Samuel 6:9

Have you ever tried to convince yourself that something was just a coincidence, only to see so many signs pointing in the same direction that you knew it wasn’t? Maybe you unexpectedly ran into the right person at the right time, received an encouraging phone call on a difficult day, or found the exact Scripture you needed when opening your Bible. At some point, coincidence starts looking a lot like God’s fingerprints.

In today’s scripture reading, the Philistines were desperate to get rid of the Ark of the Covenant. After experiencing God’s judgment, they devised a test. They placed the Ark on a new cart pulled by two cows that had recently given birth. Under normal circumstances, those cows would have stayed close to their calves. Instead, they headed straight toward Beth Shemesh, exactly where they needed to go.

The Philistines wanted to know if God had truly been behind everything that had happened or if it was all just chance. The cows provided the answer. God was directing the journey every step of the way.

As I read this chapter, I am reminded that God is still directing the paths of His people today. Even when we cannot see the whole picture, He is faithfully guiding us toward His purposes.

Here are three truths from this passage that can encourage us in our daily walk with Him.

1. God Can Direct What Seems Impossible

The Philistines chose two cows that should have gone in the opposite direction. Everything about their natural instincts pointed one way, yet God directed them another way.

There are times when God leads us in ways that don’t make sense from a natural perspective. He may ask us to trust Him when circumstances seem uncertain or step into something new when we feel unprepared.

If God has placed something on your heart that feels bigger than your abilities, don’t let fear stop you. Perhaps He’s prompting you to lead a small group, start a ministry, write a book, or reach out to someone who needs encouragement. Take the next step and trust Him to provide what you need along the way.

2. God’s Guidance Is Often Clearer Looking Back

The Philistines wanted immediate proof that God was at work. Once the cows reached their destination, the answer became obvious.

Many times, we want God to show us the entire roadmap before we begin the journey. Instead, He often reveals the next step and asks us to trust Him with the rest.

When you’re facing an important decision, focus on the next step rather than the entire process. If you’re praying about a new opportunity, gather the information you need, seek godly counsel, and move forward in faith. As time passes, you’ll often see God’s hand in ways that weren’t obvious at the beginning.

3. God Brings His People Back to the Right Place

The Ark was returning home. What had been taken away was being restored.

God is still in the business of restoration. He knows how to bring wandering hearts back to Him, heal broken situations, and restore hope where disappointment once lived.

If you’ve drifted from your time with God or become discouraged by life’s challenges, don’t stay stuck. Spend time with Him today. Open your Bible, pray, and invite Him into your circumstances. One small step toward God can begin a journey of restoration.

Today I want to encourage you to trust God’s direction, even when you don’t understand every detail. The same God who directed those cows toward Beth Shemesh is directing the steps of His children today. Nothing in your life is happening by chance. God sees the road ahead, knows the destination, and understands exactly what you need along the way. Keep walking with Him, trust His leading, and don’t be discouraged if you can’t see the whole picture yet. He is faithful to guide you, faithful to provide for you, and faithful to bring you exactly where He wants you to be.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Samuel 6:9

1 Now the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 

2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it to its place.”

3 So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”

4 Then they said, “What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?”

They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 

5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. 

6 Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart? 

7 Now therefore, make a new cart, take two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them. 

8 Then take the ark of the Lord and set it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you are returning to Him as a trespass offering in a chest by its side. Then send it away, and let it go. 

9 And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us—it happened to us by chance.”

10 Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 

11 And they set the ark of the Lord on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumors. 

12 Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 

14 Then the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there; a large stone was there. So they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 

15 The Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the chest that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone. Then the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices the same day to the Lord. 

16 So when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned as a trespass offering to the Lord: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron; 

18 and the golden rats, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large stone of Abel on which they set the ark of the Lord, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

19 Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the Lord had struck the people with a great slaughter.

20 And the men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? And to whom shall it go up from us?” 

21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord; come down and take it up with you.”

Journal:

• Is there an area of my life where God is asking me to trust Him even though I don’t have all the answers?
• How have I seen God’s guidance become clearer when looking back over my life?
• What next step of faith can I take today?
• Are there any areas where I need God’s restoration in my life?
• How can I become more attentive to God’s direction this week?