Ornan turned and saw the angel: and while his four sons were with him hid themselves, Ornan continued to thresh wheat.  As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he went from the threshing floor, and did obeisance to David with his face to the Ground. (1 Chron 21:20-21)

The back story: David displeased God by taking a census. (I believe this displeased God because David was beginning to measure his own strength and the power of his nation rather than God’s).  As a result, David faced punishment of his own choosing: 3 years of famine; 3 months of being subject to the sword of his enemies; or 3 days of the Sword of the Lord.

David put his fate in the Hands of God.

At the point of these verses, an angel of God was about to destroy Jerusalem, when God said, “Enough”. Upon the very ground that the angel stood was the threshing floor of Ornan.

David came and paid a handsome price for the land, on which he built an altar.

Now here’s the point: Ornan’s sons saw the angel and ran from God. We never read about them again in the Bible, as far as I can tell.  Ornan did not seem to fear the angel nor show any awe except to the king. He seemed to honor man more than God. He honored the man after God’s own heart, but a man nevertheless. Ornan received a fortune for the land, money, but not from God.  After this, we never hear of him again.

David honored God. A few verses later, we are told that David, himself, was too afraid to inquire of God because of his sin. He did, however, offer sacrifices to God. Fire came from heaven and consumed it. It was upon this ground, that David bought from Ornan, that the great Temple would be built.

The lesson is clear. Fear, honor, serve, and put your fate in the hands of man, you may get your just rewards. They will be a worldly blessing, but not God’s. If you fear, honor, serve, and put your fate in the hands of God, you will get a move of God in your life, and His blessing. I guess the choice is ours. What will your choice be?