DO NOT BLAME GOD!

[Bayo Afolaranmi]

Dearly Beloved,
DO NOT BLAME GOD!
“Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against
Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was
afraid of the Lord that day and said, ‘How can the ark of the Lord
ever come to me? He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be
with him in the City of David” (2 Samuel 6:8-10 NIV).
David had ascended the promised throne of Israel after many years
running from one place to the other from Saul, the then king. He had
established himself in his new capital city. As part of the ways to
appreciate God for these, he brought together thirty thousand men
chosen out of the Israelites and went to Baalah of Judah to bring the
Ark of Covenant to his capital city. The ark has been in that village
for almost 100 years since the time the Philistines returned it from
its capture. Abinadab had been the custodian of this sacred object,
so, when David came for it, he volunteered his sons, Uzzah and Ahio,
to guard the ark as it was being transported on a new cart to
Jerusalem amidst fanfare. Alas, a tragic incident occurred. In a bid
to prevent the ark from falling because the oxen that were pulling the
cart stumbled, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark. He was
struck dead immediately by God because of his “irreverent act”! King
David was angry for this and he was afraid to bring the ark to his
capital city. He seemed to be blaming God for that tragedy. How could
God strike Uzzah when he (Uzzah) was actually trying to “help” God?
Many things went wrong in this event. The Ark of the Covenant
represented the presence of God who dwelled among His people in a
special way (see Exodus 25:22). Therefore, it has to be handled with
reverence, even in its transportation from place to place. The Mosaic
Law specified that the Levites (to be specific, the Kohathites) have
to carry it on their shoulders by means of poles passed through gold
rings attached to the ark (see Exodus 25:14; Numbers 4:15). Even the
Levites should not touch the ark or even look in it because of its
holiness or they risk death (see Numbers 4:20). It is impossible to
know why David overlooked these requirements, but he and Uzzah and
Ahio placed the ark on a cart and proceeded to Jerusalem. Out of his
overzealousness, Uzzah took hold of the ark so that it would not fall.
He faced the consequence instantly. Why then should David be angry?
Why should he blame God for what he (David) did not do right?
Many people are committing similar error today. They want to serve or
please God in their own ways while God has given a specific way to
come to Him and serve Him. Jesus Christ said, “I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”
(John 14:6 NIV). Peter re-echoed this later: “...then know this, you
and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that
this man stands before you healed. He is 'the stone you builders
rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one
else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we
must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12 NIV. See also 1 John 2:23; 2 John 9).
In what ways are you also try to serve or please God wrongly? No
matter how seemingly good your service is to God, if you do not do it
the right way, do not blame God if He does not accept your service or
even strike you in His own way.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
Prayer Point: Pray that you will not serve God in the wrong way no
matter how seemingly good the way may be.