Verse of the day: Exodus 25:10, 17 “And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.” 17 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width.”
The Ark of the Covenant, known to be God’s throne in the Holy of Holies, is where God told Moses He would meet with him and give him commandments for the children of Israel (v. 22). Within the Ark were three items that were significant; manna, the bread God provided for them in the wilderness, Aaron’s staff, which God caused to bud when the people rebelled against his authority, to prove his authority was God-given, and the Ten Commandments. These three items had great significance, as it was a reminder of Israel’s rebellion against God while in the wilderness. The manna, a reminder that they rejected God’s provision, the staff, a reminder that they rejected God’s authority, and the Ten Commandments, a reminder that they were unable to live righteously, in and of themselves, before God. When we reflect on these three things, we must admit that we too have rebelled against God in these three areas. How often have we not trusted God to take care of us? How often have we made decisions that were opposite of what we knew God wanted, and how often have we sinned, in our words, actions, and deeds, against God and others? We are just as guilty as they were, proving what God told us in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” However, even back then, God had already given the Israelites hope for the forgiveness of their sinfulness. The Ark was covered by the Mercy Seat, or Atonement Cover, God’s throne, where the high priest would approach, once a year, in the Holy of Holies, and make atonement for himself, his household, and the children of Israel. He would sprinkle the blood of a bull and a goat, and once God saw that blood, their sins would be covered, or forgiven, until the following year. This was very significant, not only for the Israelites then, but for us now. The Atonement Cover sat over the three reminders of Israel’s rebellion, and was a picture of how Jesus’ atoning Blood would cover our sins, granting us forgiveness before the Father, and making a way, through Him, for us to approach God’s throne of grace with boldness (Hebrews 4:16). The three items inside the Ark also serve as a reminder of why Jesus, the Lamb of God, was qualified to give His life as a propitiation, or payment, for our sins. The manna, a reminder that Jesus is the Bread of Life, our Manna from Heaven, that gives us eternal life, and in Him we will never die (John 6:32, 48-50). Aaron’s staff is a reminder that Jesus never rebelled against God’s authority, and obediently fulfilled His Father’s will, even unto the death of the Cross (John 6:38; Luke 22:42; Philippians 2:5-11). The Ten Commandments are a reminder that Jesus lived a sinless life, never once violating God’s Law, thereby being perfectly qualified to die as the Lamb of God, the perfect Sacrifice that God required, in order that our sins be completely forgiven, in Him (Romans 8:1). When we stumble, the enemy will do whatever he can to convince us that God will never forgive us. He will try to convince us that God’s love and grace could never be enough for what we just did. Sadly, he may even use another judgmental, legalistic, Christian to convince us of this. However, we must never forget that we have our Mercy Seat, our Atonement Cover, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, who gave His life and His Blood, to be spilled, for the complete forgiveness of ALL our sins. We now have an Advocate, in Christ, whose righteousness has been placed upon us, and has made us acceptable to the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossian 1:14; 1 John 1:8-2:1). No matter what happens, or how we stumble in our walk with Him, once we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we will never be separated from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39).
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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