A Dangerous God
May 30, 2021
“We tried to con God.” So could read two headstones in a secluded spot outside Jerusalem. They are linked conceptually, if not in style or location, to two graves in the middle of the Sinai desert labeled “We did it our way,” and one near a threshing floor outside Jerusalem, “I thought I was helping.”
Three lonely gravesites. Three key turning points. Three times God makes it clear—one is not cavalier toward God. His holiness and righteousness is a boon for those who adjust to it; it is dangerous for those who ignore it.
God dwells among his people in a tabernacle. He creates a priesthood, that his presence might be mediated to the people, that he can continue to be in their midst without destroying them. And right there, in the middle of this consecration, Nadab and Abihu go their own way, offering strange fire to God.
The unauthorized fire needed to be purified to be in the presence of God. Since the priests didn’t purify it, God did. Unfortunately, our bodies were not made to withstand such a purification process. Holiness is a harsh reality sometimes. “We did it our way,” doesn’t cut it with God.
God’s been dwelling among his people for a while now, but David is ready to bring the presence of God to his new capitol city. They go to Abinadab’s house, put the ark of God on a new cart, and proceed to Jerusalem. Somewhere around the threshing floor of Nacon, one of the sons of Abinadab reaches out to keep the ark from falling off the cart.
Surely God restrained his holiness for a long time—no part of this situation is done the way God intended. But that act of reaching out was too far. Unholiness comes into contact with that which is holy, and purification ensues. Uzzah is consecrated, but doesn’t survive the purification process. “I thought I was helping,” just doesn’t cut it with God.
God is now dwelling in the midst of his people in a new way. His Holy Spirit has descended upon the followers of the Way. They are made into a new tabernacle, a holy people, a royal priesthood. In recognition of this, many of them sell their property to provide for those in their midst who have need, trusting that God will take care of their own needs. Ananias and Sapphira see this example and decide to follow it, just without actually giving everything to God.
This lie, this unholiness, results in God’s purification of his people. Unfortunately, Ananias and Sapphira don’t survive the process. “We tried to con God,” just doesn’t cut it with God.
The end of these stories is always the continued dwelling of God among men. The unholiness is purified and the community is sanctified. But these examples serve as a witness—our God is dangerous, and not to be taken lightly.
—John Coffey
