Uzzah Oh Uzzah!

This is a story of a man called Uzzah. When the Ark of Covenant was enroute to Jerusalem, the oxen carting the Ark stumbled. Without missing a beat, Uzzah reached out and supported the Ark, lest it fall. Immediately, God’s anger turned against him and struck him dead. Maybe here’s where the golfing world got the term “sudden death” when it comes to a truce at the end of 18 holes. Ha..ha..

Does this story disgust you? Well, it shouldn’t. But it affected David. He was angry and he abandoned the idea of taking the Ark back to Jerusalem. So he left it at the house of a priest, Abinadab (2 Samuel 6). But God blessed the household of Abindab and everybody in town could see that. When David got wind of it he ordered that the Ark be brought back to Jerusalem. Well, I am not commending David in this change of heart but I am just wondering … what is it about mankind that God would be so mindful of us? I guess you can call it grace.

Back to the story. In case you are feeling uncomfortable at the action of God upon Uzzah for his supposedly kind deed, let me explain. In the Old Testament, everything was under LAW. God, in His laws, made it ever so clear that NO ONE and at ANY GIVEN TIME was allowed to touch the Ark of God except for the appointed priests. I mean NO ONE and under NO CIRCUMSTANCE. The Ark was sacred and it was a death penalty should anyone ever dare to break this law. Uzzah broke that law! His intention does not matter. He broke the law. You may be thinking, “But if he hadn’t done that, the Ark would have come crashing down”. By the laws of nature, I would agree with you. But God is the supernatural God and He is never bound by our natural laws. So, what IF Uzzah hadn't reached out and supported the Ark? Here’s what will happen …

God would have performed a supernatural act that day in front of the nation of Israel and the world will once again see the glory of God! That’s what would have happen. God could have suspended space and time, or angels could have appeared or the Ark would have floated against the law of gravity! We are dealing with God here folks. Use your imagination. But that day, Uzzah not only broke the law, he robbed God of His glory. In a sense he insulted God. He thought God needed His help. We don’t have to help God. He is God. It is our honor and privilege to work with God but God never needed aid. If God hadn’t done what He did, Uzzah may be bragging later on about how he “saved” the Ark! He would have been the “hero that saved the Ark”. God doesn’t need saving. He saves. The Ark was a representation of His Presence. God is absolute holy! How can a sinner touch the most holy? How dare a sinner touch the holiest of holies? What defiance! What pride!

Folks, there are just some things you and I need to steer clear off. Some things are simply God’s department and we have to let God be God. We don’t need to fight God’s battles. He fights our battles. We don’t need to fight for His church. He who said He will build His church will oversee His church. When the Lord said, “Touch not His anointed ones” even David dared not kill Saul who had lost favor with God. God dealt with Saul in His own ways and at His own time. When God said, “The tithe is holy unto mine”, we don’t decided it’s our money. There are just some areas in life that’s solely God’s department and we are to let God be God and not aid him. God doesn’t need Uzzahs. He is God. He is the Creator of the Universe! He is the majestic, awesome Ancient of Days, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is Jehovah, the Almighty! Yet there are so many Uzzahs today thinking that they need to fight for God. What pride! What arrogance! What deception!

Now, to Him who was and who is and who is to come, to God be the glory and honor and power forever and ever! Amen.