One burning desire of individuals young or old is to have a sense of belonging. We long to feel at home in our everyday environment.
Likewise, God desires to be at home among men. However, because He is God, He must have the preeminent place among men if He is to dwell among them. God has always desired to be at home among those who will give Him His rightful place. This was first demonstrated in the garden of Eden (Gen 3:9), also in Christ’s first coming (John 1:14), and lastly, into eternity where “the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them” (Rev 21:3, KJV). The LORD even spoke unto Moses and said, “Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exo 25:8, KJV). Is God at home in all areas of our lives?
The Revelation of God
God desires to reveal Himself to men. He revealed His holy character to the Israelite with the Ark. Today, He has revealed Himself to us in His Son (Heb 1:1). Therefore, we should expect to see types of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Ark and its materials.
The Hebrew word for acacia is translated by the Septuagint as “incorruptible.” The Lord Jesus is incorruptible in humanity because, unlike all others (Rom 5:12), He was not born in sin. He saw no corruption, even while bearing sin on the cross (Heb 7:26-27), nor in death (Acts 13:37). Your salvation rests secure in One unable to sin: God manifested in flesh (1Tim 3:16).
The pure gold overlay symbolizes His deity. Pure gold is without contamination and alloy. So the Lord Jesus is God (John 1:1, 2Peter 2:1), completely holy, unchanging, and in need of nothing. Despite this, God became man and desires mankind’s good. Our Lord Jesus, as our High Priest, sympathizes with our difficulties in a world of sin, and advocates for us before God. Feel free to share your troubles with Him today.
The Presence of God
Another purpose of the Ark of the Covenant, with its Mercy Seat resting on top, was to display God’s presence among men. Though the people saw the presence of God through the cloud by day and fire by night, very few were able to approach Him at the Ark. The High Priest alone was able, once a year, to approach the presence of God with blood (Heb 9:7). Because of Christ, we have unlimited access into the presence of God (Heb 4:16).
In today’s divisive society which pits races and ideologies against one another, let us find our sense of belonging, not in a cause or subculture, but in the Person who opened His arms to us. He wishes for us to abide with Him. Daily reading and prayer help the believer take life in stride, and God’s presence within you becomes visible to everyone watching.
