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8. What shall we do? The discomfiture of Dagon before the ark seemed to create in the hearts of the lords of Philistia a resentment against the God of heaven and a greater allegiance to Dagon. He was still the deity who had given them the victory on the field of battle, and they had done him homage by entrusting the ark to his protection. Even though they admitted he had been worsted in personal conflict, he was still their god, and they refused to surrender to the idea of acknowledging the supremacy of the Creator of all things. An epidemic struck the city which, according to all heathen reasoning, was the work of the supreme Deity, from whom came both good and evil; therefore the only thing to do was to get rid of the offending symbol of God’s presence. But God, who is no respecter of persons, was as anxious that the Philistines recognize the gifts of His providence to them as He was that the Jews do so (see PP 587, 588).

However, convinced against their will, the Philistines were of the same opinion still. So it was with Pharaoh. But it need not have been so. Nebuchadnezzar did not let pride control him, and, through repeated revelations of God’s protective power, came to the place where he turned from his idolatry and worshiped the God of heaven (Dan. 4:24-27, 34, 35). Even as God had shown Pharaoh His restraining power over the plagues, He now demonstrated to the Philistine lords His ability to halt the epidemic that was sweeping through their land. Pride forbade any course of action other than ridding themselves of what to them was the great source of offense—the very thing God intended to be to them a means of salvation.