Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Seeking Him First and Failing Forward

Today I am in 1 Chronicles reading about David.  We just learned about his mighty men.  David is on top and a MUCH better king than Saul.  In fact, David wants to do the right thing before God, "Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul." (1 Chron. 13: 3)  David wants to set up right relationship with God - he is putting God first.

So, he rolls out a new cart to carry the Ark back to its rightful place - in the center of everything.  The people are ecstatic - David is dancing; there is a party going on.  They are doing the right thing before God.  Then it happens. "Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled." (1 Chron. 13:9)  You would have done the same thing - this is the ARK OF GOD - we aren't letting it fall to the ground.  God's response - he struck Uzzah dead.  Yep.  Died right on the spot.

This doesn't seem fair.  If you are trying to restore God to his right place why wouldn't he let this go - he was trying to save the ark - right?  Well, sort of.  You see, God was VERY specific about how the ark was to be transported - it was to be carried on poles that were specially made for this purpose.  David didn't get out the poles - he made his own way to return to God.  How often do we try to mix our ways with God's ways as we try to put him first?  God made a way - in Jesus - your lovely cart is not going to do it.  Follow his way.

Let's see how David responds.  

He was angry and afraid.  Honestly, I would be too.  I was trying to do the right thing and you killed my friend!  God had lashed out in what seemed like a really mean way.  So David thought, "How can I bring the ark of God home to me?"  (1 Chron. 13:12) 

Have you started to try and put God first - in the best way you know how - and everything starts falling apart?   You aren't alone.  This man "after God's own heart" tried to do the same and ended up hurt and disappointed.  In fact, he left the ark at a house nearby and went home without it.   The Lord blessed that household and, for a time, David missed the blessing.   God had made rules and David wanted the combo deal.  Can't do it!

This happens again and again in God's word.  Finally, someone's heart is right and he is ready to go for it and the first attempt is UTTER FAILURE.  Stephen, talking about Moses in the New Testatment explains, that "Moses supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand."  (Acts 7:25)  In fact, this is the point where Moses ends up in the desert for 40 years; because, they see him as a murderer as he defended a brother against the Egyptian oppressors.

What to say?

First, you will probably mess up BIG TIMEThat does not disqualify you.  Clearly, we know that this ark incident was not the worst thing David did.  If you are going to allow God to use you, expect to try and fail to follow him.   In fact, it shows that your heart is in the right place but you probably need to get more in synch with God's way of doing things - he is not Burger King - you can't have it your way.

Second, you will probably end up in "time out" with God.  That happens often in Scripture.  There is a high point, an aha moment and then - you end up without the ark, in the desert or next to a stream (Elijah).  You are thinking that you must have misheard?  You can't do any good now? Why was I such a fool to think God would use me?  Or, instead of questioning yourself, you might question God, with anger, fear or resentment.  All of this is part of the process.  Have you read the Psalms!  The question is  - will you decide to make God your steadfast rock and come out of the desert with him when it is time?  Moses didn't want to try again - but after the burning bush, he did.  David did figure out the right way to carry the ark and got it home again. 

In Deuteronomy, he is reviewing all the things that happened in the wilderness before the promised land and he explains, "the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart." (Deut 8:2)  Is that what is happening to you right now?  Are you finding yuck in your heart?  GREAT!!  Get it out of there - repent and trust in what Jesus did to atone for that.  Later in the passage he gives us encouragement, "that he might humble you and test you to do you good in the end." (Deut. 8:16) 

We are in the middle of the story.  Are we willing to trust that in the end GOD will do US GOOD?  After this reminder, God warns the people not to think that they came into the promised land on their own power.  You read the story and wonder - how could they forget?  Moses is gone 40 days and there is a calf at the base of the mountain.  How easily we forget?!  He uses these times to show us his character, our character and draw us to trust in him alone.  To remind us that the story is HIS and it is for HIS glory - not our comfort or our own glory.  God likes to use the foolish, lowly, crazy things of this world to advance his kingdom.  He is searching for those who are willing to put him in the center and fail forward.   Will you be willing to do that?

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