One of my favorite things about travel in Israel is how it increases my understanding of the Bible, God’s Word.
While in Caesarea, our guide taught us about the custom of cutting the hands and heads off statues belonging to a conquered people to symbolize “our god is bigger and stronger than your god.”
That evening, I read 1 Samuel 5 about what happened when the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant and put it in the temple of their god, Dagon. When the people entered the temple the following day, the statue of Dagon was lying face down in front of the ark. The people picked up their god and stood him back in his proper place of honor.
When the Philistines arrived at the temple the following morning, Dagon lay on the floor, before the ark, with his hands and head were broken off.
The ultimate “our God is bigger and stronger than your god.”
When I’m struggling and fearful, this memory reminds me there is no reason to fear because my God is greater and stronger than any other god.