Expert: Rev C.Brian Ross - 5/8/2010

Question
Hello Reverend Ross!  I hope you had a fantastic vacation!  I am curious about a story that I believe to be from the Old Testament.  I might not have the facts straight but I'll give it a whirl.  The Ark of the Covenant is being carried by several people(I guess maybe on poles?) and God has forbidden anyone to physically touch the Ark.  Apparently, the ones toting the Ark allow it to began to topple, and a man walking along side it reaches out with his hand and steadies it to keep it from falling.  He is instantly struck dead for coming into physical contact with the Ark.  In regards to the eternal destination of this man's soul, do you think he went to hell, or did God take in consideration his intent when he touched it?

Thank you for any insight here---Brad

Answer
My dear Brad,

How good to hear from you again – I think!!  You certainly come up with some very interesting questions – and this is one of them!

The incident to which you refer is recorded in I Chronicles 13:9ff.  It does, at first sight, appear to be a very harsh punishment for what would seem to be a well-intentioned action.  However, we must realise that the Ark ought never to have been transported in the way recorded, in the first place!  It was not being carried by those (Levites) who should have been attending to that duty but had, instead, been placed on a cart, pushed by Uzzah and others – who may not even have been Levites.  In Numbers 4:4-6, 15 the instructions are specific.  The Ark, together with the other items from the Tabernacle, is to be carried by the descendants of Kohath (Levites), but even they “... must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die.”

So that is, perhaps, the first lesson to take from this part of the Scriptures (in line with II Tim.3:16) – that a good intention does not, of itself, justify a bad action.  Indeed, Warren Wiersbe (whose commentaries on the Biblical books come with my strong commendation!) makes the point that, even before Uzzah did anything, David had made the mistake of failing to seek YHWH’s mind in the matter of bringing the Ark up to Jerusalem!  He writes: “The lesson here is obvious: God’s work must be done in God’s way if it is to have God’s blessing.  The fact that all the leaders of Israel agreed to use the cart didn’t make it right.” (Be Restored, p.41)

Uzzah’s sin/mistake was one of presumption – that YHWH was not capable of looking after the Ark that He had designed, and that was, with the Mercy Seat (the lid with its two angelic figures) the symbol of His Presence among the Children of Israel.  He broke the commandment of YHWH, and suffered the immediate consequences (cf Ananias and Sapphira in the New Testament – Acts 5:1ff).

As to the eternal destiny of Uzzah, I am unable to say!  That is a matter for the Lord Himself and, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen.18:25).  However, we must remember that this all took place under the Old Covenant.  Peter, in his first letter to the church in general, states that the Lord Jesus “... went and preached to the spirits in prison, ...” (I Peter 3:19).  This is specified as those who “...did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.” (I Peter 3:20), but many people believe that Jesus preached to all who had died prior to His atoning death and His glorious resurrection.  If (and I can only say ‘If’!) this is the case, then Uzzah had his opportunity to repent, and be saved.

My former minister, spiritual mentor, and personal friend, the late Rev George B. Duncan, used to say “If I could understand, fully, the mind of God – I would be God!”  Deut.29:29 may also be relevant!

I trust that some of this will have been helpful to you.  Here’s to the next time!!!!

Blessings

C.Brian Ross (Rev)

P.S. Please go to

http://bloginterviewer.com/politics/the-crazyrev-page-c-brian-ross

and give me your vote (every 24 hours, if you wish!) – and encourage as many of your friends as possible to do so as well.  I’d love to see a Christian site in the top 5!  The score reverts to Zero at the end of every month, so please feel free to keep on logging in!!  Many thanks.