Rats and tumors
We painted rats and tumors last week in Sunday School. The Super Bowl had not been hyped as much.
Our class has been journeying through 1 Samuel, building up to David and Goliath.
If you’ve never read the story about the rats and tumors, I promise it’s in there – squeezed in after the LORD called Samuel and before Saul became king. When she heard the story, my assistant Ashley exclaimed, “More people should be talking about this!”
Let me give you some background. Eli had been the priest of Israel for many years before passing the torch to his sons, Hophni and Phinehas.
Unfortunately, Hophni and Phinehas are described as evil men, scoundrels even. Though they were spiritual leaders, they did not follow their father Eli’s god. Instead, they sinned greatly and publicly.
The Israelites (good guys) went out to fight the Philistines (bad guys). Much to their surprise, they were defeated. About 4,000 of them died that day.
“Why did this happen?” the elders asked. And then without another thought announced, “Let’s bring the ark of the covenant so it will save us from our enemies.” They didn’t say, “Let’s pray and ask God to save us from our enemies.” They didn’t trust in God; they trusted in the ark.
The ark was hauled from Shiloh to the battlefield. When it was brought into the camp, Israel gave such a shout that the ground shook.
The Philistines heard the commotion. When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into Israel’s camp, they were fearful at first; they had heard stories of what the Israelites’ God had done. But they rallied. “The slaughter was very great; Israel lost 30,000 soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas died,” 1 Samuel 4:10-11).
Still working toward the rats and tumors part.
The Philistines took the ark to Ashdod. The people there were afflicted with tumors. Rats appeared in the land and death and destruction were throughout the city. The ark of the covenant was moved about. In each city where it rested, rats and tumors followed.
Finally, after seven months, the Philistines called their priests and diviners together. “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD?” they asked.
Their answer was to return it, but not send it away empty. They suggested a guilt offering to go along. It was decided to send five gold tumors and five gold rats because of the plagues that had struck the people. (I picture that brainstorming meeting.) So, last Sunday, our high school class painted plastic rats and small stones gold as a bizarre reminder of the story. (We had made paper ark of the covenants the week before.)
We giggled as they worked but were reminded that the rats and tumors were a direct result of Hophni and Phinehas’ sin and disregard for God.
Hophni and Phinehas were the priests, the spiritual influencers of that time. Instead of directing their focus on God, they focused on themselves and their own desires. Their actions affected others. Four thousand soldiers died in the first battle, 30,000 in the second. Several cities were struck with rats and tumors; people there died also. The ark was captured, and they lost their own lives.
Today, our actions have consequences. If we know God, His Word tells us to act like we know Him. As spiritual leaders – in the church AND the home – we lead in word and deed. Pointing others in the right direction is good, yet can be difficult, even awkward. Sometimes conversations are necessary where truth is shared with love. When we don’t say what needs to be said, it speaks volumes.
If we keep reading, we will soon see a young man chosen to lead the people. A man who loved God deeply and wasn’t afraid of giants.
