Get Rid Of The Cart!

David was now afraid of God, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” [1 Chronicles 13.12] 

The answer to David's legitimate question was a simple one, albeit forgotten.

Just because Israel had forgotten God's specific instructions for moving the Ark of God by its carrying poles and not by cart did not mean those instructions were not as important as they ever were. Uzzah was the unfortunate case in point.

The cart was a convenience. Conveniences are not always better. Conveniences do not justify disobedience.

Uzzah was stricken dead because he touched the Ark. David and all Israel eventually came to that realization. The curse of death upon Uzzah then was directly associated with transporting the Ark incorrectly - in a different manner than God had originally instructed. Sure, David got angry about it, but that didn't change a thing.

Does this story have any relevance to us today? You bet it does! However, people today have become so scientific in their understanding of the world in which they live that they fail to comprehend the spiritual implications of their circumstances. In plain language, people no longer associate curses with disobedience. This practice has had a cumulative effect to the point that little or no consideration is given today to the spiritual side of what the Bible calls curses (Deuteronomy 28.15-68). What's more (and infinitely worse), people have the audacity to say and believe that "bad things happen to good people" as if what the Bible says about curses does not exist!

Not unlike David, people today still get angry at God when curses strike. But what people today do NOT do is ask God how to avoid the curses!

Imagine for a moment how foolish it is to declare "faith in Christ," Who "redeemed us from the curse of the Law" (according to Galatians 3.13), while seeking out medical treatment for a condition clearly defined in Deuteronomy 28.15-68 as a curse, without a moment's pause for repentance! And yet, this practice is commonplace in Christendom. Today's Christian society has become enthralled with the conveniences of debt, insurance, medicine and technology (their "cart") and are completely blinded to the fact that the "cart" was never God's plan. All the while they continue to attempt to mitigate the curses for disobedience while rarely if ever associating sin's role in them.

The answer David would finally get to his question could be paraphrased like this: "Get rid of the cart!" 

Relative to what has been said here, God declared to Moses and Israel, "I am the LORD your Healer!"

He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.” [Exodus 15.26]

If God said, "I am the One Who heals you," our insistence upon using debt, insurance, medicine and technology could be likened to David asking God, How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care AND STILL USE MY CART?”

And, well-meaning Christians pray every day, "God please use doctors and medicine to heal..."

Father, You are not only my Healer, but my everything. Forgive me for insisting that You use the cart of man's methods to accomplish Your blessings on my life. My only plea and justification before You is, "Jesus." So be it.