Day 355 – Shortcuts

1 Chronicles 13:1 Then David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 2 David said to the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of JEHOVAH our Elohiym, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; 3 and let us bring the ark of our Elohiym back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.”

 4 Then the entire assembly said they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of the people.

 5 Thus, David gathered everyone in Israel together, from Shihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of Elohiym from Kirjath Jearim. 6 David and everyone in Israel went up to Baalah, to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of Elohiym JEHOVAH, who dwells between the cherubim, where His name is proclaimed.

 7 Thus, they carried the ark of Elohiym on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

 8 Then David and everyone in Israel played music before Elohiym with their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.

 9 And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

 10 Then the anger of JEHOVAH was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before Elohiym. 11 David became angry because of JEHOVAH’S outbreak against Uzza; therefore, that place is called Perez Uzza to this day.

 12 David was afraid of Elohiym that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of Elohiym to me?” 13 Thus, David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.

 14 The ark of Elohiym remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months. JEHOVAH blessed the house of Obed-Edom and everything he had.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Iesous – Jesus

Theos – Supreme Divinity

Hagios Pneuma – Sacred, Holy, Mighty Wind, Breath, Spirit

God’s character:

Judge

What do you do when something you do turns out wrong? You made plans, you got the people together who wanted to help and then when you implemented your plans, they fell apart.

David wanted to bring the ark of JEHOVAH Elohiym to Jerusalem. He gathered the people to bring the ark with joy to Jerusalem. Yet, when Uzza touched the ark, JEHOVAH killed him. Instead of taking the ark to Jerusalem, David became afraid of Elohiym and took the ark to the house of Obed-Edom. While the ark remained in the home of Obed-Edom, Elohiym blessed everything he had.

David did a good thing in wanting to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. However, he needed to bring it to Jerusalem the way Elohiym told the people they were to carry the ark.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you agreed to do what He told you, in the exact manner He told you. Not the way you want to do it, causing shortcuts in how you do Yeshuwa’s work. When you implement your plans for Yeshuwa’s work, nothing will turn out right.

Many people who claim to be Christians, aren’t because they didn’t accept Yeshuwa as their personal Savior and Lord. They slapped a title on their lives and expected it would gain them a place in heaven.

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Iesous by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know You are a teacher come from Theos; for no one can do these signs that You do unless Theos is with him.”

 3 Iesous answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

 5 Iesous answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Pneuma, he cannot enter the kingdom of Theos. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Pneuma.”

What looks good on the outside, might not be good on the inside. David thought he did everything right when he wanted to bring the ark to Jerusalem, but he didn’t research his intention entirely, and Uzza died.

You might believe you are doing everything right when you go to church, sing songs, and live a good life. Yet, you’re missing out on the important link to your salvation: making it personal; accepting Yeshuwa as your Savior and Lord.

JEHOVAH didn’t want David to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with the pomp and circumstance he presented before Elohiym. He wanted David to bring it in the manner He prescribed for the ark when He gave the instructions to Moses in the wilderness.

In your zeal to become a Christian and do everything Yeshuwa tells you, you cannot do things in a haphazard manner. You must do what Yeshuwa tells you in the manner He prescribes. There are no shortcuts to becoming a Christian and living the Christian life.

First, you must accept Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord.

Second, you must find a minister who isn’t afraid to preach the inerrant Word in truth, not one who preaches a feel-good sermon and gives the people what they want to hear. Those who do allude to shortcuts to salvation and don’t give their congregation the opportunity to accept Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord.

John 14:6 Iesous said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Uzza, as a priest and Levite should have known the correct way to bring the ark to Jerusalem. However, he went along with what David planned, and paid the price of disobedience, death when he touched the ark.

What plans do you have for your life as a Christian? Read, study your Bible, learn everything you can about JEHOVAH Elohiym, Yeshuwa, and the Hagios Pneuma. Pray. Spend time with Yeshuwa, not only in church on Sunday or whenever you meet, but every day. Don’t tell yourself you’re too busy to spend time with Him every day. Make it a priority so you will know what His plans are for your life. Then when He tells you to do something, you will know how to do it.

Life is full of shortcuts. Being a Christian isn’t one of them. Don’t let Satan tell you there’s another way when Yeshuwa is the only way. His plan is on every page of His Word. Read it. Study it. Pray. Then you will know His heart and His plans for you, and you won’t do as Uzza did and reach for a shortcut Yeshuwa didn’t plan for you.

Let’s pray: Father, I want to follow You wholly in truth, seeking You and Your way, not mine. Teach me as I read and study Your Word, so that I will not fall victim to Satan’s shortcuts to salvation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 7 January 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux