In the Haftorah of Parshat Shemini (II Samuel, chapter 6), we witness a powerful and perplexing episode in the life of King David. After years of yearning, David is finally bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. It should have been a moment of triumph and joy—a spiritual climax for both king and nation. The music is playing, people are dancing, and all seems aligned with divine purpose.
But then, a sudden and jarring moment changes everything. The oxen pulling the cart stumble. Uzzah, one of David’s attendants, instinctively reaches out to steady the Ark—and is struck down by God on the spot. The celebration halts. Shock and fear ripple through the crowd. David, shaken and distraught, decides to pause the journey and diverts the Ark to the home of a man named Oved Edom.
It’s a difficult scene to comprehend. Uzzah meant well. He acted out of concern and reverence. Yet his act is considered a breach of sanctity, and he pays the ultimate price. Even King David, the man after God’s own heart, becomes afraid. What was supposed to be a spiritual high point turns into a painful interruption.
This episode resonates deeply with anyone who has tried to do something good—something noble and holy—only to be met with unforeseen setbacks. You plan with the best intentions. You begin with enthusiasm. And then, without warning, you hit a bump in the road. Maybe a relationship falls apart, a job opportunity collapses, a health scare arises, or your spiritual momentum suddenly dries up. Like David, you’re left asking: What went wrong?
But the story doesn’t end in fear or failure. The Ark remains in the home of Oved Edom for three months — and something remarkable happens. As the verse states (II Samuel 6:11), “God blessed Oved Edom and all his household.” According to Yalkut Shimoni (Shmuel II, 132), during those brief months, his family experienced extraordinary growth and blessing. His daughters-in-law gave birth to multiple children. The very Ark that caused death and dread became the source of miraculous life and abundance.
One person’s setback became another’s opportunity.
This shift teaches us something essential: The bumps in life are not dead ends. They’re detours—meant not to destroy, but to develop. When the road grows bumpy, some grow discouraged. Others, like Oved Edom, embrace the moment and become vessels for divine blessing.
The Gemara (Berachot 60b) captures this idea through the story of Rabbi Akiva. Traveling with a donkey, a rooster and a lamp, he is denied lodging in a city. Forced to sleep outside, he then suffers a series of setbacks: A lion kills his donkey, a cat eats his rooster, and the wind blows out his lamp. After each loss, Rabbi Akiva proclaims: “All that the Merciful One does is for the good.”
Only the next morning does the reason become clear—bandits attacked the city. Had Rabbi Akiva’s animals made noise or his lamp been visible, he could have been captured or killed. What looked like abandonment was, in truth, protection. His losses were part of a divine plan to save him.
This principle applies just as much to our own lives. When we hit a spiritual or emotional wall, we may be tempted to give up. But challenges aren’t always punishments. Sometimes they’re invitations—to reevaluate, to grow, or to make room for new blessings. The path to fulfilling our purpose is rarely smooth, but it is always sacred and divinely orchestrated.
Even David, after recovering from the initial shock, ultimately resumes the journey. But this time, he does so with greater humility, care and reverence. His temporary failure led to a deeper understanding of God’s presence. His fear turned back into faith.
So when we hit those bumps in the road—when things don’t go as planned—we must remember: Our momentary pain may contain within it seeds of future blessing. Like Rabbi Akiva, like Oved Edom and like King David, may Hashem help us transform what at first seems like detours and challenges into divine destiny and blessings.
Rabbi Dr. Avi Kuperberg is a forensic, clinical psychologist and is a member of the American Psychology-Law Society. He serves as the President of Congregation Torah Ohr in Boca Raton, Florida. He can be reached at [email protected].
