You’re
probably seen the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark. Have you
ever wondered why God told Moses to make the Ark of the Covenant? Hebrews 9:4
tells us “the Ark of the Covenant (was) covered on all sides with gold, in
which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the
tablets of the covenant.” Each thing represented something about God.
The
tablets of the Ten Commandments that
Moses received on Mount Sinai = God’s Law
The
jar of manna from the wilderness = God’s provision
Aaron’s rod that miraculously
budded = God’s
miracles.
Aaron was the first high priest who would
represent Israel before God.
The
cover (or lid) of the Ark
was called the mercy seat = God’s mercy.
The
mercy seat had two golden cheribum
(angels) with outstretched wings = God’s
presence.
The Ark was the connection between God in heaven and man on earth.
One
day out of the year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the
Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and would
sprinkle blood on the top of the Ark of the Covenant—the
mercy seat.
The mercy seat was over the tablets of the Ten
Commandments, which were
inside the Ark. When people
sinned the Law was broken, which required God’s judgment. But when the blood
was sprinkled on the mercy seat, this act demonstrated that the blood activated God’s mercy, and that mercy triumphed over judgment (James 2:13). Without
the
blood there would be no mercy.
The Ark in the Old Testament was an object
lesson to teach us about Christ’s redemption in the New Covenant. We have all
broken God’s Law and need forgiveness. Immediately after Jesus died on the
cross, He took His blood into the Holy of Holies in heaven and placed it on the
Mercy Seat to obtain eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:11-12). Now
salvation is available to everyone who will receive Jesus Christ as their Lord.
For more on the Ark, read the sermon “Don’t Touch That Ark!” and Where is the Ark of the Covenant today?
NEW STUDY: Where is the Ark of the Covenant today? The
Ark disappeared from the tabernacle in 587 B.C. In 1981, three rabbis claimed they found it
under the Temple Mount. This study includes a video of their discovery! MUST
WATCH
SERMON: “Don’t Touch that Ark!” Why
did God kill Uzzah for touching the Ark? This message shows how need to learn from his mistake.
Making Life Count Ministries
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Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
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