1 Chronicles 13: 9-11
But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark. Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God. David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah . . .
Sometimes I need to read Scripture more than once. Sometimes I need to look at my circumstances more than once. Things happen around us all the time. Some things we understand. Some things we don’t. Sometimes we are tempted to feel that the way we see things at first glance is the most right and accurate way of seeing, but if we take a second glance, almost always, we are given a new and different perspective.
When I first read this passage my attitude was the same as David’s. I could hear his voice in my head . . . “God, what?!?! Why did you do that?! He was only trying to help?! That’s not fair!”
Why would the Lord strike someone dead whose intentions were good? Uzzah didn’t want the Arc of the Covenant to fall. So he reacted and tried to help and the Lord struck him dead. . . . seems a bit harsh.
But then the Lord asked me this question: What did Uzzah’s reaching out and touching the Arc represent?
Two things whispered in my heart: Distrust and a need for control.
This is what my journal says:
“Not wanting the Arc to fall, he reaches out to help it. But the Arc is the Presence of God and he commanded all the Israelites not to touch it. What is more important? Obedience and resting in the Words God has already spoken? or Disobedience with good intentions? Is not God, God? Can he not command angels to come and raise up the Arc so that it will not fall?!
How often does God give us a Word and expect us to rest in and obey that Word which he has already spoken, but we see things all around us that seem uncertain and unsteady so we feel pressure to rush over and fix them or help them . . . Could it be we are trying to take control of these situations? Could it be that God just wants us to wait; be obedient to the thing he has already said; and watch him do something miraculous?”
Had not Uzzah reached for the Arc, God would have had to do something miraculous himself to keep the Arc from falling and what a wonderful and powerful testimony it would have been to the Isrealites that the Presence of God was truly with them. Instead, God displayed his power in another equally miraculous, but less awe-inspiring way. He killed Uzzah for his disobedience, lack of trust and trying to take control of the situation. Poor Uzzah.
How does this translate into my life today?
I am transitioning out of one role and the Lord hasn’t spoken any specific vision for the future, and I am living in a country of great need and difficulty. There are so many situations around me that need fixing, and the temptation is great to want to reach my hand out; jump from one project to the next; try to take control and fix things. Or some days, when I see something or feel an injustice, I just want to react like David.
But two words the Lord has spoken. First, I have called you here. And second, Rest.
Even though, right now, things seem uncertain and shaky I know, first and foremost, beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord has called me to this nation and this people; to proclaim the Gospel of Christ; to bring hope in the midst of despair; to see his Kingdom come.
And secondly, He is asking me to rest; to not move from one project to the next; to not be too quick to take on another job; to not rush into things because I am overwhelmed by the needs. But he is bringing me into a season of rest and healing. He is asking me to take time to just be in his presence and find some breathing room for my soul for a season. He is asking me to trust him with all that is going on around me that seems wobbly and about to fall through the floor, and rest in knowing that He has called me here and he has a job for me to do, but to obey the word he has already spoken and take some time to REST.
