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Response
The account of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant can be found in 2 Samuel 6:1-7 and 1 Chronicles 13:9-12. While the ark was being transported, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and a man named Uzzah reached out to steady the ark. God’s anger flared against Uzzah, and He struck him down, causing his death. The punishment of Uzzah may seem harsh for what could be perceived as a good deed. Nevertheless, there are reasons why God took such drastic action.
Firstly, God had given Moses and Aaron specific instructions regarding the Tent of Meeting and the movement of the Ark of the Covenant. “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting” «And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. », (Numbers 4:15). Regardless of how innocently it was done, touching the ark was a direct violation of God’s law and was punishable by death. This served to uphold the sanctity of God and the reverence required when approaching Him without proper preparation.
It is evident that David erred by not allowing the Levites to transport the ark to him, opting instead to have men accompany him. This was a grave mistake, as it was necessary for the Levites to be the ones to transport the ark.Ever to have been put upon a cart, old or new. It was to be borne upon men’s shoulders, and carried by Levites only, and those of the family of Kohath (Exodus 25:12-14;Numbers 7:9), using the poles prescribed. Failing to follow God’s precise instructions would be seen as (a) not revering God’s words when He spoke them through those such as Moses, whom He had appointed; (b) having an independent attitude that might border on rebellion, i.e., seeing and acting on things from a worldly, rather than a spiritual, perspective; or (c) disobedience.
Second, the ark had stayed for a period of time at Abinadab’s house «And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. », (2 Samuel 6:3), where his sons, Uzzah and Ahio, may well have become accustomed to its presence. There’s an old saying, “familiarity breeds contempt,” that could apply in this case. Uzzah, having been around the ark in his own home, could very likely forget the holiness that it represented. There are times when we, too, fail to recognize the holiness of God, becoming too familiar with Him with an irreverent attitude.
Third, the account tells us the oxen stumbled. The cart didn’t fall and neither did the Ark, just as the boat carrying Jesus and the disciples rocked fiercely in the storm, though it wasn’t necessarily in danger of sinking (Matthew 8:24-27). And yet, just as with the disciples who failed to put their faith in their Master, Uzzah, for a moment, felt it was his responsibility to save the integrity of God, and that our almighty God somehow needed Uzzah’s assistance. He presumed that, without his intervention, God’s presence would be dealt a blow. As Job asked
s, “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?” «Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? », (Job 11:7). “His greatness no one can fathom” «Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And his greatness is unsearchable. », (Psalm 145:3). “His understanding no one can fathom” «Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. », (Isaiah 40:28). Moses lost his right to enter the promised land because he felt his intervention was needed when he struck the rock, instead of speaking to it as God had commanded (Numbers 20:7-12). We need to listen carefully to what God has to say to us, and in obedience strive to do all He commands. Yes, God is loving and merciful, but He is also holy and He defends His holiness with His power, and affronts to His holiness sometimes bring about His holy wrath. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” «It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. », (Hebrews 10:31).
Something of God’s presence in the Ark of the Covenant seems to be lost in the church today. In the time of Moses, the people knew the awesomeness of God’s absolute holiness. They had witnessed great miracles when the ark was with them. They respected that God’s ways and thoughts are much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). In truth, the more we try to bring God down to our worldly way of thinking, the more we lose sight of His majesty and sovereignty. Let us remember to approach Him with reverence and awe, acknowledging His greatness and incomprehensible nature.
When we neglect thinking or reasoning, God will seem further away from us. Those who desire to approach God and have Him approach them are the ones who come to Him with reverence and holy fear. Uzzah overlooked that lesson, and the outcomes were tragic.
