Six Steps Away From Blessing
What would you do if you possessed something that proved fatal to anyone who touched it?
David faced this dilemma as he brought the Ark of God to his headquarters. After seeing that his friend Uzzah was struck dead when he touched it, David does what any fearful king would do. He gives the ark to one of his servants! When David found himself between a rock and a hard place, he was willing to sacrifice others for his own benefit.
And think of those who escorted the ark the rest of the way! They must have wondered if they might be next.
Three months later, after David hears that his servant Obed Edom, who housed the ark, is being blessed, he wants it back. So he orders that the ark be brought back, but before anyone touches it, David decides to read the manual this time. Sure enough, there it is in black and white: keep your hands off the ark! (Scripture?)
In preparation for the return of the ark, sacrificial offerings are brought in abundance. The ark is now ready to be picked up, but this time the manual is followed explicitly and lifted by wooden poles. Watching from a short distance, David anxiously watches the Levites take their first step. There’s the first step! And stop! Everyone sighs with anxious relief. No one has died! Then the next step and the next six steps!
Wiping the sweat from his brow and in great relief (my dramatic version of the scene) — all is calm; no lightning from heaven! The danger has passed. David’s faith is restored and he declares to the Levites they have gone "far enough.” “It’s time to worship and exalt in God our Savior.”
Six steps! Six steps that led to sacrifice and joy. When God’s people tried to enter His presence their own way (carrying the Ark on an oxen cart), their uninformed, “easy” method brought death, fear, and anger. When they chose to follow God’s prescribed method (holding on to inserted wooden poles), they were blessed and overjoyed.
Enjoying the presence of God requires knowing the rules and following His ways with a willingness to go the extra mile. When we do, blessing is often just six steps away!
Making ready a people prepared for the Lord,
Mark Hamby
Recommended Reading: Let Go by Fenelon; Escape from the Eagles Nest; The Locked Cupboard; The Secret Bridge, The Unexpected Return (audio), The Wanderer (audio), The Little Woodsman and his Dog Caesar (ages 6+); Jack the Conquerer (ages 6)+; Trusty Faces His Fear (ages 4-6).
