Don't Justify The Means

⁶ When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled. ⁷ Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God. ~ 2 Samuel 6:6-7^CSB

The Israelites had just recovered the Ark of The Covenant. They were dancing for joy before the LORD as they were bringing it to the city of David. They set the ark on a new cart and two men guided it, Uzzah and Ahio. All was going well until the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out his hand to stable the ark.

He didn’t do this because he had no respect for God but because he didn’t want the ark to fall. Yet God struck him down instantly because of his sin. God didn’t see Uzzah as protecting the ark. He saw him as disobeying God’s commands. The ark was to be transported by specific people carrying it by the poles, not on a cart pulled by oxen and guided by two men.

The Ark of The Covenant was beyond sacred. It housed the Mercy Seat on top, where God Himself would descend in a cloud. Now they’ve not only put it on a cart pulled by oxen, they’ve almost dropped and had to touch it to re-steady it. The action and intent may seem to justify the means but it doesn’t.

So often, we think that if we do the wrong thing for the right reasons, God will justify us, but that’s not true. God is a just God who doesn’t see in grey like we do. He only sees in black and white. Either it’s wrong, or it isn’t. In fact, God would rather you do the right thing for the wrong reasons than the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Here’s what I’m saying, Uzzah’s intentions were to keep the ark from falling and being damaged, yet He still sinned and was therefore punished. In the New Testament, Paul addresses those who preach the Gospel for money, and says at least the Gospel is being preached. It may be done for selfish reasons but at least people are hearing about Christ. At least people are hearing about the hope of salvation.

The intention will never override the action. Because at the end of the day we are judged by our actions, not what we intended to do.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Justify The Means.

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