Not a Good Luck Charm

I didn’t expect to feel this uncomfortable reading 1 Samuel 5–8.

Yesterday, Hannah’s story pulled me in completely. I loved it. So, I came into today’s reading ready for more of that—and instead, I got something that felt totally strange.

The Israelites treating God like a good luck charm. Carrying the Ark into battle as if that guaranteed a win. Idol worship that feels almost bizarre—golden mice and golden “tumors” (which I learned just means swellings). At first, it all felt so foreign.

But the longer I sit with it, the less foreign it feels.

They believed in God, but they weren’t really following Him. They wanted His help, just not His way. And if I’m honest, I recognize that.

Even the Philistines—who didn’t worship Him—figured out something important: He can’t be controlled. Their god falls. Their cities fall into chaos. And they can’t get the Ark out of their hands fast enough.

It isn’t until Samuel calls the people to truly return—to put away their idols and come back with their whole hearts—that something finally changes. Not just activity this time. Repentance. And then, peace.

I see the pattern too clearly.

• Wanting quick answers instead of real change.
• Wanting blessings without fully yielding.
• Quietly expecting that if I do my part, God should come through the way I think He should.

I think I’m including Him in my plans. No, He has the plan and He carries me.

And I’m learning—slowly—that trusting Him means letting go of managing outcomes. Like President Holland said, some blessings come quickly, some take time, and some don’t come until heaven.

So, maybe this story isn’t so strange after all. It was a bit of a stretch to see Jesus in these chapters, but I do see the lessons He is trying to teach. 

God can’t be managed, but He can be trusted.