Hand-to-hand combat in most cases insinuates a more level battlefield. When you are fighting mano a mano, there are no secret weapons or long-range ballistics. You are equalizing the competition to the raw power you possess.

In 1 Samuel 4, the children of Israel have been humiliated in battle. The Philistines have stolen the ark of God and brought it to the city of Ashdod.

1 Samuel 5:2
When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

This primary city of the Philistines was known for its power. The ark of God was placed in the temple of Dagan as a trophy of their victory. Little did they know that while all the Philistines were asleep snug in their beds, an epic battle was taking place in Dagan’s temple. The next morning, they found the image of Dagan on the ground before the ark of God. This deference was symbolic of “things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” bowing before the Almighty.

After helping Dagan back to his pedestal, the next evening was the hand-to-hand battle. This was not a level playing field. Nothing can compare to the matchless strength of Yahweh! The next day, the Philistines didn’t find their god in deference to Yahweh, they found their god defeated before Yahweh.

1 Samuel 5:4
And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

Decapitation and amputation were strong signals of a victorious battle. The severed hands symbolized powerlessness. The severed head symbolized preeminence. The enemy was out-manned and out-maneuvered. Soon the people were plagued. While the hands of Dagan were severed, the Philistines recognized the hand of the Lord was grievously upon them.

1 Samuel 5:7
And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

The world vaunts itself against the Lord. One day there will be the ultimate “showdown” and Yahweh’s domination will be uncontested. His preeminence and power will be undeniable. The world needs to learn to respond to the compassionate hand of the Lord now so they one day in the future do not feel the catastrophic hand of the Lord.

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

How do we draw attention to the mighty hand of God in our modern era? Attribute acts of God accordingly. Instead of speaking of drought as if it is only a meteorological aggravation, maybe we should acknowledge the mighty hand of God. Instead of speaking of recovery as if it is only a medical advancement, maybe we should attribute it to the mighty hand of God. Let us live cognizant of God’s mighty hand in the current events so that many may take Him seriously and enjoy his gracious offer of salvation.