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INTRODUCTION
I want to preach to you this morning on the subject of Good Intention, Bad Decision.
Have you ever tried to do something good, but just royally messed things up?
You had the best of intentions, but you ended up making a bad decision.
Good intentions do not always bring about good results.
We can have good intentions, but end up making a bad decision, which can result in painful consequences.
In today’s message, we are going to look at the story of a man by the name of Uzzah who had a good intention, but made a bad decision, which resulted in tragic consequences for him.
We are also going to look at how we can avoid making the mistake of Good Intention, Bad Decision and trust God to help us make the right decision.
SCRIPTURE
MESSAGE
Uzzah’s Good Intention becomes a Bad Decision
The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant.
It caused the Philistines so much torment that they sent it back to Israel (1 Samuel 6).
It was kept temporarily at the house of Abinadab (1 Samuel 7).
In 2 Samuel 6, David prepares to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem.
Abinadab’s two sons, Ahio and Uzzah, were tasked with transporting the Ark.
They placed it on a new cart, pulled by oxen, and began the journey.
GOOD INTENTION, BAD DECISION
Bringing the Ark back to Jerusalem was a GOOD INTENTION.
However, the method they used to transport the Ark was a BAD DECISION.
God had given the Israelites specific instructions on how the Ark was to be moved (Numbers 4:15)
First, a specific family of the Levites, the Kohathites, were the only ones permitted to carry the Ark.
Second, the Kohathites were commanded to carry the Ark on their shoulders.
There were two poles that were used to transport the Ark.
Third, the Kohathites were commanded not to touch the Ark or the holy things contained within it.
The punishment for disobedience to this commandment was death.
David, Abinidab, Ahio, Uzzah and the rest of the Israelites would have, or at least should have, known these commandments.
But as they were transporting the ark, one of the oxen stumbled.
A previous BAD DECISION now creates a crisis moment for Uzzah that never should have happened.
Out of concern for the safety of the Ark, Uzzah reached out and grabbed the Ark to try to stabilize it and keep it from falling off the cart and being damaged.
GOOD INTENTION, BAD DECISION
Being concerned about the safety of the Ark and trying to protect it was a GOOD INTENTION.
But disobeying God’s command to not touch the Ark was a BAD DECISION.
I almost want to feel bad for Uzzah.
He was put in a difficult situation and he made a rash decision on the spur of a moment.
He thought he was making the right decision at the time, but it turned out to be the wrong decision with immediate and fatal consequences.
Our Good Intentions can result in Bad Decisions
Some might think:
“How could God do this?”
“Couldn’t God have overlooked this just this one time?”
“I mean, surely God could have let Uzzah off on a technicality, right?”
“Chastise him, teach him a lesson, and move on.”
“It is not that big of a deal, right?”
Wrong!
God makes the rules.
We don’t get to decide what is right and what is wrong.
We don’t get to “do what is right in our own eyes.”
God’s Word is the standard.
Anything that falls short of His standard is sin.
And the wages of sin is death.
GOOD INTENTIONS do not nullify or supersede God’s Word.
No matter how good our intentions are, if we disobey the Word of God it is a sin.
Whether Intentional or Unintentional.
Whether through Foreknowledge or Ignorance.
Whether by Commission or Omission.
What are some ways our own GOOD INTENTIONS can lead to BAD DECISIONS?
We can make BAD DECISIONS when we act before we think.
Let’s look back at what caused Uzzah to sin.
Uzzah made a split-second, rash decision.
He, at least momentarily, either forgot or ignored God’s commandment and responded in the way he thought was best at the time.
Again, protecting the Ark…GOOD INTENTION.
Disobeying God and touching the Ark…BAD DECISION.
How often do we make rash decisions because it seems best to us at the time without considering God’s Word or praying for guidance first?
When we do this, we take God out of the situation and are left to the consequences of our own decisions.
We are to walk in the Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide our lives.
We should make decisions prayerfully.
Put your trust in God and He will direct your paths and His way is always the best way!
We can make BAD DECISIONS when we get impatient.
King Saul
Made a BAD DECISION because of his impatience.
He couldn’t wait any longer for Samuel to show up and perform the sacrifice.
The enemy was approaching and he couldn’t hold them off any longer.
So Saul took matters into his own hands and decided to perform the sacrifice himself.
Saul was king, not prophet or priest.
He should have trusted God and waited for Samuel to perform the sacrifice.
Wanting to sacrifice to God before entering the battle…GOOD INTENTION.
Disobeying God’s commandments on how sacrifices were to be made because of lack of patience…BAD DECISION.
What about us?
We wait on the Lord for a while, but there is a limit to our patience.
We want God to give us the answer like we’re going through the fast food drive through line.
We want it now and we want it super-sized.
If it doesn’t come when we want it, we get impatient and move forward with our own plans.
When we do this, we are showing a lack of faith and trust in God’s plans and timing.
You can’t hurry God.
He may not come when you want Him, but He’s right on time.
We can also make BAD DECISIONS when we do what is right in our own eyes.
King Saul
Disobeyed God’s command to completely destroy the Amakelites (men, women, children, animals, everything).
He decided it was best to keep the best of the animals to present as a sacrifice to God.
Samuel rebuked Saul and pronounced that God would strip away the kingdom from Saul and give it to David, a man after God’s own heart.
Offering sacrifices to God…GOOD INTENTION.
Disobeying a direct commandment to destroy everything and do what is right in his own eyes…BAD DECISION.
What about us?
We know what God’s Word says, but for some reason we decide our way is better.
It’s like telling God: “I got this.”
Doesn’t the Bible say “our ways are higher than His ways” and “our thoughts are higher than His thoughts?”…oh
wait…
The Road to Hell is Paved with GOOD INTENTIONS
GOOD INTENTIONS lead to BAD DECISIONS which can have severe CONSEQUENCES.
Sometimes those CONSEQUENCES affect only us.
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