Coffee With The Lord

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!

No parent is perfect.  We’ve all made mistakes at times when we were disciplining our children (embarrassing ones)!  I’m always reminded of this when I’m watching NFL football on television… (Have you noticed how the officials always seem to penalize the 2^nd guy – the one who retaliated to the player who started the fracas?).  It’s a testimony to God’s help and grace that our children turn out ok and do not have deep emotional scars, given the imperfection of our parenting skills!  Let’s face it, we’re not perfect or consistent in our discipline as parents (we’re working on it, … but we’re not perfect!)  Apologies for mistakes made to my children go right here!!

But I know someone who is perfect in His discipline – our Heavenly Father!  I read the following words this morning during “coffee with the Lord” and paused to offer Him thanks for His purposes in my life!!

For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but [our Heavenly Father] disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:10-11 ESV)

I may not understand what He is doing in my life (I probably won’t)!  I may protest, complain and even disagree!  But His purposes are good, His plan is perfect, and His motives are pure!  I am reminded this morning of what the Lord told His people in the Old Testament as they entered 70 years of very painful discipline – as exiles in Babylon… “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 19:11)  I’ve just got to believe that!!

Ever sit in on a looooooong presentation or lecture and find yourself saying, “What’s the point here anyway?” It might have some very interesting anecdotes, stories, principles and instruction, but nothing the presenter has said clearly ties it all together and gives it a purpose. (Hint: I’ve set in on a few classes like that… and even some sermons with that flaw.)

The Gospel of John in the Bible might be criticized for that (lots of awesome miracle stories called “signs,” great teaching a the person called Jesus, plenty of dialog with religious leaders and “disciples” … but “bottom line” – what’s the point?

Now I’ve personally never felt John’s gospel was pointless! In fact all along the way the point – the purpose – grows on you! This Jesus – all He did and taught – is powerful and magnetic! It draws you in – you want to know more! You’d like to have met (and followed) Jesus personally! And you’ve got some questions you’d like to get answered! Furthermore there’s a challenging word that keeps popping up all along the way… “believe!”

Hey, John is NOT going to leave you in doubt about his purpose… He has an agenda for it all! I read about it this morning in John 20:30-31! Here it is “up front” and clearly stated…

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book! BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN SO THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT BY BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME!”

There it is… and I’ve got to tell you every time I read the Gospel of John there is something about all that it contains that powerfully draws me in! I find all that Jesus did and taught incredibly powerful – I find myself believing on Him (especially in light of the record of His suffering and death on my behalf and His resurrection from the dead!) Hey, here’s one voice that testifies that the declared purpose of the book is true from personal experience! Believe me, it’s worth a read (in fact several reads)!