9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. 10 The anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11 Then David became angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13 So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months; and the Lord blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had. I Chronicles 13:9-14 NASB
David was offended with God. Uzza had been struck dead for touching the ark to steady it. Surely God understood that Uzza meant well! Surely God wouldn’t hold it against Uzza that he tried to prevent the ark from falling off the cart!
Looking at it from another point of view, God had already been very gracious with those who were moving the ark – it was supposed to be carried on poles by the priests. They had no business putting it on a cart. Touching the ark to steady it (as it bounced along on a cart that never should have carried it) was ‘the last straw’.
Later, David would read the instructions and move the ark to Jerusalem correctly.
Are we offended with God when he doesn’t act and respond as we think he should to our best intentions? Perhaps – like David – we will eventually read the instructions and do things God’s way.
– SSXG