I can hear the comments now… “We are NOT going to do that the “old way!” I know that’s what Moses stipulated, but he had no idea how impractical, physically taxing, and inefficient it was. I mean, why not use a cart? It just makes sense – it’s the better way to move the ark from Kiriath-Jearim to Jerusalem, the city of David… Ask anyone!!!
And those voices won the day! And the Bible says, “All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people… And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart!”
What a day in Israel – the sacred symbol of God’s presence among His people was coming “home!” “And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets!”
But then the unforeseen and tragic occurred! The oxen stumbled, the cart tottered dangerously nearly tipping over, and “Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark” to keep it from spilling out awkwardly on the road with its holy contents!
The Bible records, “And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark [a sacred object] and he died there before God!” (from 1 Chronicles 13)
Hey, it may have seemed like the practical – the sensensible – the efficient and modern way to transport the holy ark, but it was NOT God’s way (cp. Exodus 25:12-15! It violated the clear directions the Lord had given earlier through Moses about the holy character of the ark and how it was to be transported and by whom!
David was angry! He was angry at God! In fact, the ark went no further! The celebrating was over!!! The ark was taken to a nearby house and kept there for several months.
Then David settled down, rethought the situation, and apparently consulted God’s word. The Bible records, “Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to Him forever… and he said because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us because we did not seek him according to the rule… And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.” (from 1 Chronicles 15:1-15)
What an important lesson for leaders in attempting to do the Lord’s work! Our intentions may be noble and good (David’s were!) Seeking counsel from “consultants” can be helpful. BUT WE HAD BETTER BE SURE TO DO GOD’S WORK GOD’S WAY!!! We must not fall prey to violating God’s will and word in the name of practicality and efficiency. Time spent in prayer for wisdom and examining God’s word for direction and then determining to follow it is NOT wasted time!
Coffee With The Lord 