I’m thinking
about relationships today. We have
relationships because they fill a need in us, otherwise, why would we
bother? In over 25 years of marriage I
have discovered that genuine love isn’t just mushy gushy feelings (though they
are a nice addition) but the actions of love that we choose to take despite our feelings. Are we acting kind, selfless, patient, humble,
foregoing envy, irritability and resentment, but also enduring through all the difficulties… can we say commitment? These are just some of the actions of love
found in 1Cor. 13 that we ignore because we prefer the feelings.
Yet without
commitment our relationships will fail, with hearts and lives torn apart. Statistics prove half of marriages fail- even
Christian marriages. Something’s not
right, but we don’t want to change; we continue wanting to do things our way. History proves this isn’t the best idea: look
at Adam and Eve, Pharaoh, King Saul, Nimrod, Sampson, Nebuchadnezzar, Jonah,
etc. All suffered terribly because they
wanted to do things their own way
which resulted in repercussions for others too.
As Christians, we often retain that part of our old nature, and that’s
not a good thing. We should desire
complete transformation into the person our Lord God wants us to be, fully
walking in the Spirit, fully following Jesus Christ.
And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of
the house of Abinadab. And Uzza and Ahio led the cart. And David and all Israel
played before God with all their might...
And when they came to the threshing-floor of Chidon,
Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of
Jehovah was kindled against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to
the ark. And he died there before Jehovah.
1Ch. 13:7-10
Though there
is no proof I could find, the chances are that Uzza and brother were Levites
since they weren’t struck dead from the first second. See, only the Kohath branch of the Levites
was supposed to carry the Ark of the Covenant.
And the rules for moving the Ark
were set out by God in several Scriptures.
For whatever reason, God wanted things done this way, but man thought
his own way would work just as well, or better.
Let’s build a ‘shiny new cart’ to carry this sacred object. We’ll worship God with all our might, all we
have in us, so that He will accept the plans we’ve made.
And you shall cast four rings of gold for it, and
shall put it on its four feet. And two
rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.
And you shall make staves of
acacia-wood, and overlay them with gold.
And you shall put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, so that
the ark may be carried with them. Ex. 15:12-14
And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of
covering the sanctuary, and all the
vessels … then after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it. But they shall not touch any holy thing lest
they die. These are the burden of the
sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. Nm. 4:15
But they shall not go in to watch when the holy
things are covered, lest they die. Nm. 4:20
And you shall put the staves into the rings by the
sides of the ark, so that the ark may be carried with them. Ex. 25:14
…which they should carry upon their shoulders. Nm.
7:9 (there are more Scriptures than these)
 |
| Most accurate imo. Possibly 4 more Levites. |
It was all
very clear. No see, no touch, carry
using poles (staves) not a cart, and only
the descendants of Kohath, the son of Levi do the task. God’s rules for His good reasons. But man has a
way of committing part of himself but still partly doing his own thing. David didn’t seek God as he often did (1Ch. 14:10 ,14; 1Sm. 23:11 )
nor sat before God to inquire (1Ch. 17:16 )
in the matter but did as he desired thinking God would bless it. “…Does Jehovah delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice!..” (1Sm. 15:22 )
Obviously,
God was patient with allowing the cart for a bit, but when Uzza touched the Ark
(even through the coverings if there) that was too much. His disobedience was punished. Is God not powerful enough to keep His holy
object upright? Or perhaps it wouldn’t ‘need
holding’ if it was carried on the shoulders of Levites as it should have
been. At least 4 if not 8 Levites would
have been used. (Ex- Pallbearers are 3 or 4 to a side to keep the coffin safe
and stable, sharing the load.) One
corner instability for a bit probably wouldn’t be cause for alarm.
We need to question now and then:
Are we doing what God tells us to or doing things our own
way wanting God to bless our plans?
Are we truly committed to God?
God delights in us when we obey!