By: Denny

My thoughts often return to the simple uncomplicated days of my childhood and the games we used to play. One such game was often played at our grandparents’ house. They didn’t have a closet or shelf full of toys to keep us occupied. Grandma would give us a sewing thimble, and  one of us would hide it in the living/dining room while the others were out of sight in another room. Hence it was called, “Hide the Thimble”. Once hidden the cue was given to come and find it. As the others rushed to be the first one to find it, the one who hid it would give clues. If you were far from it, they would call your name and say “freezing”. As you got closer to the thimble, they would progressively say cold, warmer, hot, or boiling. Boiling meant it was nearly right in front of you. The one to find it would be the next one to hide it. Little did I know that simple game was teaching us persistence in seeking and finding.

I can say with confidence that everyone has looked for something and couldn’t find it. There is nobody to tell us if we’re freezing, cold, warmer, hot, or boiling. We can get so frustrated that we overlook the obvious and nearly tear the house apart trying to find it. We look in places that are so ridiculously freezing. It doesn’t help when someone says, “Well, where did you put it or have it last?” Duh, if I could remember that I’d just go get it. Some people give up too quickly if the object they’re seeking isn’t right in plain sight or they must move something to find it. Others, who played Hide the Thimble, don’t give up that easily. They will approach the seeking methodically and logically without letting their emotions get in the way. They’re like a Beagle on the trail of a rabbit, much like the parable of the woman who lost one of 10 silver coins as told in Luke 15:8. “Or what woman, having 10 silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she finds it?” Notice how she implemented certain things to aid in her search. She lit a lamp and swept the house. Her diligence paid off when she found the coin, plus she got her house cleaned at the same time. Some people should follow her example and lose things more often. You know who you are.

Another account comes to mind concerning King David in 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13 and 15. The ark of God had been captured by the Philistines and was in their possession for seven months. God sent a plague among them and killed many. They sent the ark back to Israel on a new cart pulled by two milk cows. When it came to Israel at Beth Shemesh, the men there took it off the cart and placed it on a large stone and then offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord with rejoicing. However, the Lord struck and killed 50,070 men because they had looked into the ark, which was forbidden. Other men came from Kirjath Jearim, took the ark, and brought it into the house of Abinadab where it remained for 20 years. One day King David consulted with the leaders and the people to get their opinions about bringing the ark back to Jerusalem, and the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. (1^st  mistake) In this case, David knew exactly where the ark had been left, so he didn’t have to search for it. He gathered 30,000 men and went to get the ark. They put the ark on a new cart, like the Philistines had done (2^nd mistake) and headed for Jerusalem. The two sons of Abinadab, Uzzah and Ahio, we’re driving it. It was like a big parade with lots of shouting and music being played on all kinds of instruments. Everything was going just great until they reached a certain place. The oxen pulling the cart stumbled and Uzzah took hold of the ark to steady it, and God struck him dead for his error. (3^rd mistake) David was angry at God, but was afraid to move the ark any further. They took the ark aside into the house of a guy named Obed-Edom. The Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household for the three months it was there. During this time David must have repented and consulted God and his word about the proper way to move the ark. Upon hearing that the Lord was blessing Obed-Edom, he decides to go get the ark again. Notice, he had to go back to the place where he left it, messed up, and start again the right way. The right way was that only the Levites were permitted to move the ark, and it had to be carried on foot with poles inserted through its base. No one was permitted to so much as to even touch it. (remember what happened to those who did) The Levites had only gone 6 paces and David made sacrifices and offerings to God. David danced before the Lord with all his might because God was with them. They continued toward Jerusalem with music, singing, shouting, and blowing trumpets before them as they entered the city. They set the ark in the Tabernacle in its proper place that David had prepared for it. David and the people who were with him made many mistakes in handling the ark which represented God’s holy presence. Their experience and examples are lessons that we also can learn from even today.

    First lesson: When spiritual leaders take a survey to get a consensus from the people instead of consulting the Lord, they aren’t leading and will suffer the consequences.

     Second lesson: There is a proper way, order, and pattern to move with and invite God’s presence. Loud music, shouting, singing, and much excitement is not necessarily a true indicator that God is with you. The world’s way is not God’s way. The presumption of men to make it happen and treat God casually with disrespect results in spiritual and possibly even physical death. Ananias, and Sapphira his wife, found out the hard way. (Acts 5:1-11)

     Third lesson: Be careful that you do not criticize others who are serving and currently moving with God and what he is doing. As the whole procession was entering Jerusalem, David was out front leaping and dancing, wearing a priestly garment, having laid aside his kingly attire. His wife, Michal the daughter of Saul, looked through a window and despised him. When he got home, she mocked him accusing him of behaving shamefully. As a result, she had no children to the day of her death.

     Fourth lesson: This is the big one. People often get angry at God because he doesn’t do what they expect according to their plans. Many others turn away from following him because of a deep hurt suffered in the church or by another Christian. Still, some are drawn away from the faith by the cares of this life and fall back into their former sins. More commonplace are the ones who just lose the diligence and discipline to read the Bible, pray, worship, evangelize, give testimony and thanks to God for what He’s done in their lives.

As I stated earlier, there is no audible voice to tell us whether we’re freezing, cold, hot, or boiling when trying to find a lost or misplaced article. However, if you’re seeking to find God or recovery of the relationship you once had with him, there is that voice inside each one of us called our conscience which tells us where we went off the rails. In your pursuit to find God or in recovering what you’ve lost spiritually, you may need  to return to the point where you last had it and where you left it. If you don’t know, ask the Holy Spirit, He knows. Not only does He know, but is there to help you get back on track.