Day #260 - Inside the Ark
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you.”
Exodus 25:16 NIV
Have you ever had a treasure?
What did you do with it? Did you put it somewhere safe? I remember watching a television program about home invasion and some professional security guys broke in to a house so they could show a home owner their vulnerabilities. Well, it took the pros almost no time to find hidden valuables. I was shocked because it’s the same place I would hide things and it was not secure. If we value something we need to put it somewhere safe.
The ark was a container for something valuable, the law of God. The Ten Commandments that God revealed to Moses were placed inside the Ark. This is a foreshadowing of how the law would be written on the the inside in the heart of Jesus and the heart of believers in Jesus (Ezekiel 36:26).
The Bible also tells us later in Hebrews 9:4 that along with the law, there was also placed the golden pot of mana and Aaron’s rod that budded inside of it as well. The Ark contained these three items that all revealed Jesus. Jesus is the Word as revealed by the law. Jesus is the Bread of Life as revealed by the mana. And Jesus is the crucified Savior who brought life to through dead wood of the cross as revealed by the dead rod that miraculously budded to life.
The Ark contained the Word (the law) and it contained the Spirit (the miracles) and it all revealed Jesus. This was the place “the Presence” and manifest glory of God rested. It’s all about Jesus. Those of us who have turned to Jesus through faith encounter “the Presence.” Christ dwells in us by faith in the Word and Spirit. His presence has come to us and we can abide in His glory.
Lord Jesus, You are the living Word, the Bread of Life and the crucified One who brings life from Your death. There is no one like You. I marvel at Your glory. Thank You for Your presence. In Your Holy name, amen.