April 10, 2011 – Number 4

The sons of Caath or Kohath were given the most important of task.  They were responsible for carrying the most precious instruments and items of the Lord.  Along with the greatest responsibility, they also had the most severe punishment.  Touching any of these instruments or looking at them before they were covered would bring death.  “And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there because he put forth his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God.  2 Samuel 6:6-7.  Here we see the repercussions for touching the Ark when you were not suppose to or when it was not covered.  Even though he was trying to do something good, doing so outside of God’s commands leads to death.  We should keep this in mind when we use the excuse that the ends justify the means.  If the means are outside the commands of God, it doesn’t matter if the ends is something we think would benefit God.  God does not want us to go outside His rules to get to an end.  Much as we may not understand God’s means to His perfect end, we may not always understand why we cannot push the envelope to get a good outcome.  But we are not called to understand God’s commands, only to humbly follow them and know that we are not God.