12 And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13 So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.
Can God create a rock that is too heavy for him to lift? This question is asked to challenge the omnipotence of God. It is true, he cannot do that but it in no way diminishes his sovereignty. He also cannot lie or break a promise but that is why we worship him. It seems harsh that Uzzah died in the understandable reaction of stabilizing the Ark when the oxen stumbled. There is one more thing God cannot do. He cannot be in the presence of sin and Uzzah’s sin was his downfall, not his action.
Contrast Obed-Edom, a Philistine, who served the Lord also but also was afraid of him like David. He was blessed for his action. He was no better than Uzzah but because he obeyed, he was blessed. Now here we are and we cannot obey the Lord and be blessed because we are sinners. All we can do is worship God in reverent awe for saving us from our sin. Now we can enter the presence because our sin is gone. We are no longer Uzzah but are now Obed-Edom; God with us in our home.
Dear Lord, thank you that your anger is abated because it was lashed to the cross. Help us to be obedient under grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church