Don’t touch the Ark!

The concept of “don’t touch the ark” serves as a profound reminder to continuously walk in the fear of the Lord. This powerful imagery originates from an actual Old Testament narrative concerning the Ark of the Covenant, highlighting the serious consequences when it was mishandled and God’s ultimate rescue from human failings.

The Life-Preserving Power of the Fear of God

The fear of God is a potent, life-preserving power that guides individuals toward better moral choices. A compelling illustration comes from a true story in China during the restrictive one-child policy. A young woman, just moments away from aborting her baby, was overwhelmed by a sense of the fear of God. This profound feeling compelled her to leave the abortion clinic, cry out to a God she did not yet know, and ultimately led her to receive help to have her baby, come to faith, and build a family.

Biblical accounts further underscore this principle. In the book of Exodus, the fear of God empowered the midwives to defy Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Israelite baby boys, compelling them to obey God rather than man. They understood what was pleasing to God because they feared Him; in this sense, the fear of the Lord acts as its own teacher, requiring no external book to discern right from wrong.

Conversely, the absence of the fear of God leads to utter destruction. The story of Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts exemplifies this; they attempted to deceive the disciples and the Holy Spirit regarding their financial dealings. In this specific instance, God’s judgment was immediate, taking their lives on the spot to teach a profound lesson about the fear of God. While all sin leads to death, God, in His grace, typically delays judgment to allow time for repentance.

The Scandalous Story of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant

One of the most striking and debated stories in the Old Testament is that of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant. This narrative, found in 1 Samuel and more extensively in 2 Chronicles, describes a pivotal event during David’s reign. The Ark of the Covenant, a gold-covered box containing the Ten Commandments and Aaron’s staff, represented the very physical presence of God on earth, particularly where God sat enthroned above the cherubim.

During a grand celebration, David was bringing the Ark to the city. Against God’s explicit instructions for its transport, the Ark was placed on a new cart drawn by oxen. As they reached the threshing floor, the oxen stumbled. In an immediate, seemingly helpful reaction, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark. However, the anger of the Lord was kindled, and He struck Uzzah down, who died instantly before the Lord for touching the Ark.

This event left David angry, then deeply afraid, prompting him to question how he could possibly bring the Ark into his home. This story often evokes questions and is sometimes viewed by non-believers as evidence of a capricious, bloodthirsty, or unpredictable God. Even some believers may misinterpret it as a warning that any deviation from God’s commands will result in immediate, severe punishment.

Understanding the Holiness of the Ark and God’s Rules

To comprehend Uzzah’s fate, it is crucial to understand the Ark’s profound holiness and the strict rules God established for its handling. The Ark was not a “magic box” or a “Pandora’s box,” as depicted in popular culture; it was a holy object that required an equally holy and reverent approach.

God laid out detailed rules for the Ark in the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The fundamental principle was that the unholy cannot touch the holy and live. This is consistent with the broader Old Testament theme that no one can see God and live, and even the mere appearance of angels causes profound awe and prostration.

Specifically, God commanded:

• Only the Levites, a priestly tribe, were permitted to handle the Ark.
• The Ark was to be carried in a very specific manner: using gold-overlaid poles inserted into gold rings on its sides, carried on the shoulders of the Levites.
• God never instructed or authorized the use of a cart to transport the Ark. David’s decision to use a cart, despite his celebratory intentions, was a direct violation of God’s established protocol.

The Deeper Lesson: Obedience and God’s Nature

The incident with Uzzah teaches that even the best intentions do not supersede divine commands. Uzzah’s attempt to prevent the Ark from falling into the dirt or being damaged seemed benevolent, but it was an act of disobedience. God cannot abide sin, even when it stems from a desire to help or protect.

This parallels the understanding of spiritual laws, which are as immutable as physical laws. Just as a child learns not to touch a hot stove, or an adult understands the danger of exposed electrical wires, there are spiritual realities and rules that must be respected. Ignoring God’s laid-out rules, even with good intentions, leads to dire consequences.

The event profoundly impacted David, transforming his anger into fear of God, akin to a “revival” that re-baptized him in the fear of the Lord. This experience drove him and his people back to the Scriptures (1 Chronicles 13-15, Exodus, Deuteronomy) to discern God’s specific instructions for moving the Ark. Consequently, in 1 Chronicles 15, the Levites properly transported the Ark on their shoulders with poles, accompanied by appropriate sacrifices, demonstrating a heart and will yielded to God. This act of obedience ensured that “everything goes well” because they honored God’s holiness and majesty.

The Fear of the Lord as the Beginning of Wisdom Today

The phrase “don’t touch the ark” serves as a powerful personal reminder to cultivate the fear of the Lord, fostering a sense of holiness and reverence for God and His word in daily life. The book of Proverbs states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This wisdom stems from yielding to God’s rightful power and authority, directly confronting the inherent human problem of pride and rebellion—the desire to do things “our way”.

God created and designed humanity with purpose, and His ways are inherently superior to human ways. While a path may seem right to a person, it can ultimately lead to death; only the ways of the Lord lead to life.

This principle has practical applications in navigating daily temptations:

• Resisting Sexual Temptation: Travelers, particularly in certain regions, frequently encounter blatant sexual temptations in hotels. The understanding that “all healthy men are lusty men” necessitates self-discipline. The “don’t touch the ark” warning serves as a stark reminder, paralleled by the proverb: “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes and not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes into his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished”. Violating this commandment leads to death in one’s life in various forms.
• Avoiding Self-Glory: After experiencing significant successes, such as gathering 800 pastors committed to reaching 1.3 million people with the gospel of life in Guatemala, the temptation to take personal credit or glory is strong. The reminder to “don’t touch the ark” reinforces that God lives for His own glory and does not share it with others. Attributing breakthroughs, such as those seen in Cuba with the Cuban church doing God’s work in God’s way, to divine power rather than human effort is essential for humility and spiritual integrity. This recognition prevents deception and the belief in a power one does not possess.

From Fear to Grace: The Gospel’s Solution

The reality is that humanity, in its fallen state, is constantly “touching the ark” in various ways, placing everyone under a spiritual death penalty. If God were to apply immediate judgment for every sin, all would be dead. The first instance of this “death penalty” occurred when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit. Though they did not die physically instantly, their relationship with God was immediately and profoundly changed, leading to separation and the commencement of physical aging and death – a “time release” judgment. God’s judgment is often tethered, offering opportunities for repentance and restoration.

The story of the Ark of the Covenant helps to bridge the understanding between the Old and New Covenants. In the Old Covenant, God’s presence dwelt physically on the mercy seat of the Ark. In the New Covenant, God’s presence is embodied in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit dwelling within believers. The fear of the Lord under the Old Covenant revealed humanity’s utter inability to please God or achieve holiness and righteousness on its own. No matter how hard one tries or how well-intentioned one is, perfection is unattainable.

This leads to the profound glory of the gospel: while God’s wrath and judgment against sin are righteous, His mercy and grace have provided a way for humanity to be forgiven. Through the gospel, sin is covered, expunged, and no longer counted against individuals because it was counted toward Jesus on the cross. This means that the righteousness, holiness, and perfection required for communion with God are found entirely in Christ.

Ultimately, the fear of the Lord serves to draw individuals to the person of Jesus Christ and His completed work. It is this profound fear that leads to the love of Christ, and in turn, the love of Christ enhances the fear of the Lord. This transformative gospel message—that all need a savior, righteousness, holiness, and perfection, all found in Jesus—is central to the mission of PassionLife.

This article is adapted from the episode transcript.