BIBLE READING: 11 Samuel 4-7
We all know the story of how God struck down Uzzah because he touched the holy Ark of the Covenant, but why was God so angry? To begin with, God had given them strict orders that they were not touch the Ark in Numbers 4.15. Secondly, they were also given specific instructions on how to transport the ark in Exodus 25.14. Uzzah and the Israelites had disobeyed both commands when transporting the Ark of the Covenant. Therefore, God certainly has the power to punish disobedience in any way He deemed fit. After this sudden act of God’s justice, the Bible tells us “David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah” (2 Samuel 6.8). Why is David angry at God? The Bible doesn’t give us an answer, but we can infer a few things: First, maybe David feels God misunderstood him. David believes that he has good motives and feels God is overlooking the bigger picture. Secondly, David must feel humiliated. His celebration with 30,000 in attendance has ended with disaster, placing God’s faith in David in question within the eyes of the people. When we look at it from our perspective today, David has no right to be angry. It was David who messed up and not God. So that begs us to ask the question, is it okay to be angry at God? Well, if we ever do become angry at God at least we will be in some good company as David was also angry with God in Psalm 22.1-2. Most of the entire book of Jonah is about Jonah’s anger and frustration with God. Job also has stressed anger with God in Job 16.7, 30.19-20. The answer to the question seems to be yes, it is okay to be angry with God if it brings you to a correct understanding of things. First, being angry at God can be therapeutic and good for our prayer life. However, we must understand that God is never wrong, and His will surpasses our feeble understanding. Secondly, it is okay to be angry with God if it brings us to an understanding that our anger isn’t about Him, it’s about you. When we go back to the story of 2 Samuel, after the incident with Uzzah, David instructs the ark to be taken to the home of Obed-Edom. While in Obed-Edom’s possession God blesses all his household. Maybe God blessing the home of Obed-Edom was a way of God saying to David, it isn’t Me who messed up…it was you. My presence still brings blessings when you obey my voice. However, if you disobey, you will be punished. The Bible is clear that when David hears of the household of Obed-Edom being blessed, he then seeks to bring the ark back. Yet this time, He is following the correct commands. At some point in our lives, our faith will be at a weak spot and we will all feel anger and frustration with God. That seems to be okay, if it brings us to an understanding that our anger is really more about us, than it is about Him