Once when the Philistines fought Israel, the Philistines heard a shout in the camp of Israel, and feared that their God was among them, “Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, ‘What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?’ Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp” (1 Samuel 4:6).
The Philistines realized just how mighty the God of the Hebrews was, saying, “Woe to us” (1 Samuel 4:7).
A second time they pronounced woe upon themselves, but listen to what they said about the God of Israel, “Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness” (1 Samuel 4:8).
They knew what God had done to the Egyptians, but the Philistines also viewed Israel’s God as “gods,” and thought that Egypt experienced all the plagues in the wilderness.
While the Philistines did not get everything right, they knew enough to fear the God of Israel, but that fear did not lead them to run from Israel, nor to convert to their God, but to fight against Israel with even more courage, not wanting to suffer as the Egyptians had.
What do you think of God? Does your knowledge lead you to do the right thing?