God's Way

Trust the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

God's people need to understand they must do things God's way, not theirs. This has been a problem beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God clearly told them they could eat of any fruit in the garden except the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. But they let doubt in God's trustworthiness enter their minds and decided they might become more knowledgable if they ate the forbidden fruit. They thought they knew better.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?... (Genesis 4:6-7a).

This continued with their children. They knew what sacrifices were acceptable and how it was to be done. But Cain didn't like those instructions and decided to do it his way, bringing some of the crops from the ground instead of a lamb or sheep. When God accepted Abel's sacrifice but not his, Cain killed his brother. 

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod smote the rock twice.... And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them  (Numbers 20:11-12).

Even Moses had moments of wanting to do things his way. When God told him to speak to the rock and water would come forth, Moses decided it would be even better to strike the rock. For his disobedience, he didn't get to enter the Promised Land. Then, throughout their history, the Israelites only won battles when they followed God's directions. When they didn't, they lost.

And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and he died by the ark of God (2 Samuel 6-7).

David and the moving of the Ark of the Covenant is another example. God warned them that no one was to touch the ark.  Yet, when the wagon grew shaky, Uzzah put his hand on the ark to steady it. He was immediately struck down. The ark being caught not only shows disobedience, but it also shows a lack of trust in God to be able to handle things. Man often thinks he has to act to save the day, but what we really need to do is believe God and do His will.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves (James 1:22).

Whether through doubt, thinking we know best, wanting to be in control, or thinking God needs our help even to the point of disobedience, not doing things God's way always leads to disaster. As Ray Pritchard wrote in The Next Man Up, "God's work must be done God's way in order to receive God's blessing." We don't have to understand it all, just obey.

_____________________________