What’s in the Ark
Today was about as close to a “normal” day that I have experienced in the last year. I left home at 8:30 a.m. drove to Denver for a meeting and returned home through traffic at 4:00 p.m. I didn’t have to collapse in bed for a recovery nap either. The other good part of the day happened when I returned home and figured out how to address the malware virus infecting my computer and creating problems.
My meeting today was with the Attorney General’s “Substance Abuse Trends and Prevention Task Force.” This was a good meeting with some helpful information. It was interesting to see issues related to some bills that I sponsored and supported being reported on as to their impact and effectiveness. I hope to be more involved in some legislative issues in this next session. Since Attorney General John Suthers will be leaving office after the first of the year, I took this opportunity to get a picture with him in case I don’t have one in the future. John Suthers has led with integrity and adherence to the law and constitution during his eight years. He has been supportive of the Governor he has served with even though they come from opposite political parties.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.” Hebrews 9:4
Two questions that dominate the Biblical archeology is “where is or what happened to the ark?” and “what was in the ark?” The second question is answered in Hebrews. Originally the ark of the covenant contained the tablets of covenant that God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai. But we see two other items were added; a jar of manna and Aaron’s staff the budded.
I have recently read through Exodus and Numbers where the accounts of the events causing these items to be placed before the ark took place.
“…But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” Numbers 11:6
“Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” Numbers 12:1,2
Now Korah and Dathan and Abiram, took men. And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel…well-known men.They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” Numbers 16:1-3
Moses faced these two challenges to his leadership. After the second one with Korah and his cronies, the Lord confirmed His choice by having a staff from each tribe place before the Ark of the Covenant. The next day Aaron’s staff, budded and even bore almonds!
The bottom line to these items is that they are all related to the rebellion of God’s people. Rebellion against God’s laws, rebellion against God’s provision, rebellion against God’s leadership. Before we look in condemnation at the Children of Israel in the wilderness, we need to examine our own lives.
In what ways have we rebelled against God’s ways? His commands? His will? In what ways have we complained and rebelled against God’s provision? Sometimes what God provides for us is a “test” just like manna? Will we be thankful for His provision or will it be a source of complaining? Do we say like the Children of Israel, “not enough, not good enough.” Finally we need to ask in what ways have we rebelled against God’s leadership? Either directly in our lives or through His appointed and anointed leaders?
Each of these areas of life are critical for us today. Different in their manifestation, but still applicable in each of our lives. The good thing we observe is that on top of the Ark of the Covenant is the “mercy seat.” It was on the mercy seat that the blood of the lamb was spilled on the day of atonement. So all aspects of rebellion against God were covered by the blood of the sacrifice. And when God looked down on His people, mercy was extended instead of judgment against their sin.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that Christ our high priest and sacrificial lamb entered heaven and offered the provision that would satisfy the wrath of God against our rebellion so that we would receive mercy. That is good news! Regardless of how often or how intense, our rebelli0n we can be covered by grace and forgiveness because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for us.
That’s better than wandering in the wilderness for forty years; or being cursed with a plague; or being cursed with leprosy (like Mariam); or having the ground open up and swallow us alive (like Korah and his followers).