Steadying the Ark

“David and all the Israelites with him went to Baalah…to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim…When they came to the threshing floor…Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark… the LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah” 1Chr. 14:9-10.

The Ark of the Covenant was where the continual manifestation of God was displayed.  This event was full of joy and celebration as the Ark had not been with them for some time due to the reign of King Saul.  I can just picture everyone celebrating with musical instruments and dance as they are marching in the name of the LORD.  Then, it happens…Uzzah reaches out and touches the very thing that is forbidden.  He didn’t do it out of sin or out of any bad intentions.  He did it for the same reason we do it – we think God needs our help.  We think that we must give God a leg up…a boost…a nudge…a steadying of the ark in our circumstances.

Over the course of my adult life there have been more times than not when I reached out taking matters into my own hands.  There were seasons when I toiled and strived to manipulate the outcome of a situation… steadying the ark.  There were instances when I meddled with God’s decisions by believing that I knew best…steadying the ark .  Are you in a season when you are reaching out and trying to help God with His job?  Are you allowing the decisions of God to go untouched even though your circumstances appear to be teetering on the edge of discomfort?

There was another child of God who didn’t take matters into his own hands, but waited for God to instruct his movement.  It was our beloved Moses who knew the importance of God leading in all circumstances.  “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea’…Moses stretched out his hand…and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.’” Ex. 14:26-27.  Moses did not get involved until God instructed him as to when and how – that is what brought about the success of the miracle.  Without God’s guidance and timing the waters would not have parted and the ground would not have been dry.  

This morning, are you tempted to steady the ark?  Are you inserting your own plan or decision over the plan and will of God?  We must be a people who refrain from reaching out before God instructs us.  We must be individuals who steady our faith in God instead of trying to steady our circumstances.