A Good Thing the Wrong Way
After David had secured his position as King over Israel, his desire was to bring the Ark of the Covenant to be with him in Jerusalem. The Ark, containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments given to Moses, represented God’s presence among His people. 1 Chronicles 13:7-8 details the celebration: “They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. 8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.” Uzzah and Ahio were the Levites appropriately accompanying the Ark, but Uzzah reached out his hand to steady it when the oxen stumbled. He died on the spot for that action, which made David angry. But God’s requirements dictated the Ark, because of its holiness, was not to be touched by human hands. Rather, it was to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites with poles. David’s heart was in the right place, but he had not done his research. Most of us can identify.
David’s original “good” plan cost a man his life. Because most of the decisions we make don’t carry such draconian penalties, we usually do what we think is best without consulting God. The discernment to distinguish the inconsequential from the vitally important to God is missing. While the consequences might not be death, they can be disastrous. A valid customer service claim is served in anger towards an innocent employee. An accusation of being careless with money is lobbed against a child who gave it away to a friend in need. The rushed purchase of a new home for a low-priced deal turns into a money-pit nightmare. Traveling for a job that provides abundant family resource results in children missing the irreplaceable influence of that parent. The list of things that seem right to us is endless. If we are fortunate, God will intervene to expose the truth, giving us the opportunity to seek Him for a better solution.
The Apostle Paul encountered many such situations. His reliance on God’s instructions saved the lives of his fellow ship passengers when they were caught day and night in a Northeaster for two weeks. Just as everyone was giving up hope of survival, God assured Paul that He would save them if they stayed with the ship. That seemed illogical in the reality of the battering they were taking, so several sailors attempted to escape via the lifeboat. The soldiers guarding Paul circumvented that action by cutting the ropes, releasing the lifeboat. The next day the ship ran aground on a sandbar a good distance from shore, where a lifeboat would have come in handy. But in spite of the destructive pounding surf, following God’s instruction to swim or paddle to shore on pieces of wreckage brought about the survival of all.
Even after all these examples, we fail to understand that scripture does not warn us without reason, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12 ESV) Yet, we are often guilty of blaming God for our personal adversity or the injustice and suffering of others. Before we become angry or disillusioned with God for the terrible results, we must consider who authored the decision. Did we seek the Lord for His wisdom, instruction, and timing? Unbelievably, even when we falsely accuse God and are ourselves at fault through omission or worse, if we come to our senses and repent, God’s grace will give us another chance. Wisdom to achieve God’s good purpose the right way comes from Proverbs 3:5-6.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make straight your paths.”