When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said, "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert." 1 Samuel 4:6b-8
The Israelites had the opportunity to be a witness of the One True God, and they blew it.
The Philistines gave credit for the plagues in Egypt to some unknown group of gods; the truth of God's deliverance for His children had been lost somewhere along the way. My guess is that the Israelites were not living in a way that the world would know of God's intervention. Every man did as he saw fit, and God received no glory.
I wonder if the world would have been drawn to a place of repentance - if only Israel had honored God. Their lives didn't reflect God, so how could the world have seen Him?
Lord, we so easily forget the impact we could have on the world if we were to honor You. There is no way the lost can be saved unless they are drawn to Your feet. Help me to live a life that causes others to say, "Look at the work of God's hands. Only the One True God could have done this!" Help me to show others the way.
May You be glorified today.