“And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.” Exodus 4:24
It was many years after the call of Moses to deliver the people of Israel, that the Lord made David king of Israel. There came a time when David, with all the people came together to bring the Ark of God into Jerusalem. The name of God associated with the Ark was, “The Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubim.” (2 Samuel 6:2) It was a day of great celebration, with the playing of instruments, harps, psalteries, timbrels, and cymbals. All was going very well, until they came to Nachon’s threshing floor. As the Ark was being carried on a new cart, the oxen shook the cart. It was Uzzah, one of the sons of Abinadab, who put forth his hand and took hold of the Ark of God. It was at that moment that “…the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote (struck) him there for his error; and he there died beside the Ark of God.” (6:7) We might at this point ask ourselves the question, “Why did God strike Uzzah, so that he died, especially when David and the people seem to be doing the right thing in bringing the Ark to Jerusalem? Another question should be asked first. Why did Uzzah stretch forth his hands and touch the Ark? The first reason for “his error” was that the Ark was never intended to be put into a cart, but carried by the priests using gold-covered staves which were pushed, and kept, in rings on the two longer sides of the ark. Thus, this Ark of God, which originally contained the ten commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded, and a portion of manna that God had given to Israel to eat so long before, and which would be placed in the most holy place in the tabernacle, and later in the temple, was the centerpiece of worship. It represented the holiness of the covenant God, who had provided a way of communion with man, the mercy seat upon it, testifying of God’s absolute faithfulness to show mercy to the seeking heart that would become a true worshipper. Uzzah had no right to touch the Ark, for it was holy, made to be moved and carried in such a manner that sinful man should not touch it. This was much like the moment when God told Moses to take off his shoes, for the place where stood was holy ground. How was this piece of ground, and the Ark, holy? It was by virtue of the holy God who was there, and who associated His name with the place and the instrument that would communicate that separateness from the sinfulness of man. Man needed to understand that God was not man, even though Christ would take upon Himself flesh and dwell among us. He was, and is, God, the Almighty, and all-holy, sovereign God. In essence, the reason for Uzzah’s “error,” was that he, as well as king David, and so many others, neglected to abide by, and obey, God’s way of transporting the Ark. God is holy, and must be honored as such by all. The day Uzzah died was a “wake up call” to David, who feared the Lord from that day onward in a very distinct way.
When Moses received his calling in the desert from the God of the burning bush, there was something of God’s holiness. However, there came a day in an inn where Moses, his wife, and two sons, were staying, that the Lord came, and would have killed one of the sons. Why? For some reason Moses had forgotten, or neglected, to abide by God’s laws, His ways, in doing His will. One of the boys was not circumcised, thus defying the measure that God had put in place to distinguish those that belonged to Him by faith. Moses’ wife Zipporah saved the boy by circumcising him. Moses had a wake up call that day from God.
Dear Father, Show forth Thy mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.