DECISIONS: CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO ASK FOR GOD’S GUIDANCE

“Let us bring the ark of our God back to us,
for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.”
1 Chronicles 13:3

“It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time
that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us.  We did not inquire
of Him about how to do it in the prescribed way.”
1 Chronicles 15:13

Have you ever thought about the Bible being an instruction manual for believers?
That could a be bad idea for those of us who ‘try it on our own’,
….until we fail, and then we FINALLY read the instruction manual.
Sometimes we are successful in putting something together without the instruction manual,
but when we are unsuccessful, we can run into problems when trying to “undo” and “redo”.
It is during those unsuccessful times that we wish we had read the instructions first.
Failing to read instruction manuals can cost us time and sometimes money,
but failing to follow God’s instructions can result in dire consequences.

This was what happened during the reign of David.
He decided to do something without consulting the Lord first.
David had the right idea of bringing the ark with them,
but he did it the wrong way when he failed to ask God for His instructions.
As a result, God’s anger burned against them and Uzzah lost his life.
When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand
to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10 The Lord’s anger burned against
Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark.
So he died there before God.
(1 Chronicles 13:9-10)

The good news is, David didn’t just try it again without getting instructions from God.
After failing in his attempt to do things his own way,
he knew it was time to get the right instructions.
David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”
(1 Chronicles 13:12)

He announced to the people how the ark should be moved.
Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord
chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.”
(1 Chronicles 15:2)

Then he explained why God’s anger burned against them.
“It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time
that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us.  We did not inquire
of Him about how to do it in the prescribed way.”
(1 Chronicles 15:13)

Things would have gone much better for David if he had asked God first.
They would have avoided God’s anger, Uzzah would still be alive,
the ark would have been moved and they could have had a celebration.

How are you handling God’s instruction manual?
Do you try to do things on your own without consulting Him?
How can you understand His Word unless you read it often?
If you are someone who doesn’t like to read,
then ask the Lord to change you so that you can enjoy reading His Word.
Pray and ask God to help you to learn and live His Word.
Ask Him to help you know Him better and to understand how He wants you to live.
Ask for an obedient heart that will follow His directions.
When God tells us NOT to do something, He is basically saying “Don’t hurt yourself”.
When He tells us to do something, He is basically saying, “Enjoy My blessings”.
When you have a decision to make, do you make your own choice, or do you ask the Lord (pray)?