Designer Idols – Day 7

Dagon

“They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside an idol of Dagon. But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again. But the next morning the same thing happened – Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact.” 1 Samuel 5:2-4 NLT

Shaped from stone, the idol in the temple depicted a deity who was half-fish, half-man. The Philistines worshiped this merman-ish idol for the provision of grain and resources. After their defeat over Israel, the Philistines placed their priced loot – the Ark of the Covenant – next to the idol of their god. To boast of their victory? Maybe.

Can you imagine the dismay of Dagon’s attendants when they entered the next morning to find their beloved God lying face flat in front of God’s Ark? Can you imagine their humiliation when they return the following day to found him prostrate in front of the Ark again? Though they might have won the battle on the field, the victory was ultimately God’s. In ancient days, the removing of the head and arms signified the cutting off the lifeforce of what is provided. Divinely God proved that He alone is Jehovah Jireh!

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26 ESV

Reliance on something or someone else to provide for us is a designer idol created in our minds which compromises our faith in God. Our ultimate provider. Our provision comes from the hand of God, not idols and not ourselves.

Prayer: Father, You are truly Jehovah Jireh! My God that provides. Thank You that I can have faith in Your provision. Help me to cut off the head and arms of what I believe is my source of provision. I love that you feed the birds, and yet, I am more valuable than them. I ask that You show me the provisions You met before I realised, I needed them. Amen.