"it's Not Fair!" (Part Three) Series

"IT'S NOT FAIR!" (part three)

Recap: In week one I talked about Adam and Eve's one sin that got them banished from the garden of Eden. And I talked about one of the greatest examples of 'it's not fair' in the story of Job.

Last week I talked about the prophet who was lied to by another prophet yet God caused the one who was deceived to get killed by a lion. That doesn't seem fair but the prophet already had instructions from God so if they were going to change God would've told him. He should've inquired of the Lord to see if the other prophet was telling the truth. If God tells us something we need to obey it, regardless of what someone else says. And when someone says they have a word from God we need to go to God and his word to see if it's accurate.

Then we looked at Moses not being allowed into the promised land because he disobeyed God and struck the rock instead of speaking to it. Moses did that out of anger and doubt. Yes, he was incited by the grumbling Israelites but he shouldn't have allowed their actions to dictate his. How other people act does not give us an excuse to act ungodly.

The ark of the covenant was a holy relic. In Ex. 25 it is described as a box made of acacia wood. It was almost 4 feet long and a little over 2 feet wide and high. It was overlaid in pure gold, inside and out. It had rings on the sides where poles would go through so it could be carried by the Levitical priests. On top of the cover were two angelic figures with wings called cherubim that were made out of gold.

In Heb. 9:4, the writer describes the contents of the ark. In it was placed a golden jar of manna-the bread from heaven, Aaron's staff that budded as a confirmation of God's abilities, and the two stone tablets containing the ten commandments, inscribed by the finger of God.

You may have heard of the Ark of the Covenant, even if you haven’t read the bible. Are you a fan of Indiana Jones? Well, the professor-archaeologist-adventurer in the Indiana Jones movies “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” goes searching for the Ark of the Covenant.

Supposedly, the ark has survived the test of time and is housed at the Chapel of the Ark of the Covenant in Axum, Ethiopia. They believe that King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, who lived in Axum, had a son and that Solomon gave it to him. Apparently DNA testing has shown many Ethiopians are of Jewish descent. However, no one is allowed to see the Ark, not even the Ethiopian president. Supposedly, there is a single monk who watches over the ark and never leaves the chapel grounds.

Regardless of any of that being true (which I have my doubts), the ark of the covenant was a significant item in the life of God's people. With the holy items contained in the ark it makes sense that God would have specific instructions regarding how it was treated and handled. And when we see what happened to Uzzah we understand how important that is.

2 Samuel 6:1-9, "David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark.

They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD'S anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God. Then David was angry because the LORD'S wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?”

All he was doing was trying to steady it so it didn't fall. Isn't it obvious he cared about the things of God? Why would he be punished for that? It was to be carried, not placed on a cart. And only the priests of the tribe of Levi were to carry it. In Joshua 3 and 4 you see the repetitive phrase, "the priests who carry the ark of the covenant".