(56) The Ark of the Covenant

 

Now, its time to enter the Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies. We enter through a thick curtain or veil. Only the High Priest could enter into this sacred place and then, only once a year. It is a place of exclusive and unique fellowship with God. This is where the Ark of the Covenant sits representing the manifestation of God’s presence and glory.

The ark measures 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. It is made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold inside and out. It has gold molding around it, four gold feet with gold rings on the corners, and gold covered acacia poles passed through the rings for carrying the ark.



Three items were placed inside this chest. First, there was a jar of manna. Of course we remember that manna was the miraculous provision of God for the sustaining of Israel during their 40 years of wondering in the wilderness. This food was given to them after they complained against God saying they would rather have died in Egypt (Exodus 16). Later, they complained of their boredom with mana and desire for greater variety in their diet (Num. 11). So, the mana would be a lasting reminder of God’s gracious and miraculous provision. But it would also be a reminder of the people’s reoccurring sin of complaining and rebelling against God’s dealings with them.

The second item in the Ark of the Covenant was Aaron’s rod or walking stick that sprouted and produced almonds. Perhaps you remember the significance of this walking stick. Israel was questioning the authority of Moses and Aaron. It all began with one man who incited others to rebel.

One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. 2They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. 3They united against Moses and Aaron and said, "You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the LORD's people?" (Numbers 16:1-3 NLT)

God had established the authority of Moses and Aaron. Now, the people were rebelling against God’s established authority. God killed the rebels but then there were more who questioned the authority of Moses and Aaron. So God told Moses to have each tribe bring a staff with their leader’s name carved into it. He placed these along with one representing Aaron in place of Levi in front of the Ark. The next morning, Aaron’s walking stick had budded, blossomed, and had almonds on it. God did this to confirm Aaron in His authority over the nation.

This stick, later placed inside the Ark of the covenant, reminded Israel of God’s leadership and guidance through Moses and Aaron. God always raised up leaders to lead his people. But, God’s people continually rebel against authority so Aaron’s staff also reminded the people of their sin of rebellion against God’s authority.

The last item placed in the chest was the stone tablets containing the ten commandments. They were not the whole of God’s law but were the core, representative laws on which the others were built. They were a reminder of God’s holiness, morality, and their sin. God’s people continually sinned against these commandments. Over and over, God confronted and rebuked the nation for disobedience and rebellion against His commandments. There would be times of repentance and revival but it was incomplete and short lived. After the exile, Nehemiah looked back over Israel’s history:

But they became disobedient and rebelled against You, And cast Your law behind their backs and killed Your prophets who had admonished them so that they might return to You, and they committed great blasphemies. (Neh. 9:26)

So, the Most Holy Place contains three reminders of man’s failure and sinfulness. First, we are reminded of the sins of complaining and discontent with God’s gracious provision and care in our lives. And aren’t we all often guilty of complaining and finding fault with how God chooses to provide for us, care for us, and orchestrate our lives?

Second, there was the reminder of rebellion against authority. This seems to be one of the most ingrained sins in our fallen nature. We don’t like to be told what to do. Who can claim innocense in this area of sin?

Third, there was the reminder of our many sins against the commands of God. If we felt like we might be off the hook with the first two, we certainly would be foolish to claim our perfect obedience to all God’s commands. The truth is every one of us disobey God many times each day if only in thought.

The ark of the covenant is a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness, provision, wisdom, authority, power, mercy, and grace in the lives of His people. But it is also a very sobering and grim reminder of our absolute failure in being faithful to Him. The ugliness and disgust of our sin is seen in glaring contrast against the glory and perfection of God. It is humbling. It hurts. But we need to honestly and intently look in the chest.

If the Ark of the Covenant only contained these three items, it would only be a place of complete despair and hopelessness. It would only be a place of condemnation; a reminder of what blocks man from fellowship with God. But there was a cover on the chest.

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Next:  (57) The Mercy Seat