The Ark of God

Moses built the Ark of the Covenant at the command of God. The Ark had two rings on each side and a pole of acacia wood overlaid with gold placed into the rings for carrying the ark. These poles were permanently fixed. The Israelites carried the Ark with them during their 40 years of wandering in the desert, and after the conquest of Canaan, it was brought to Shiloh. The charge of carrying the Ark was given to the family of Kohath, of the tribe of Levi; but even they were not to touch any of the holy things. The Ark had to be only carried using the poles. (Num. 4:2-15). Clear instructions were given by the Lord! When I followed the journey of the Ark, I learned an important lesson.

During the time of Eli, the Philistines captured the Ark. After the Ark had been among the Philistines for seven months, they returned it to the Israelites by setting it on a cart. While the Ark was with the Philistines there was sickness but no one died! When the Ark reached Beth-shemesh, the men of Beth-shemesh looked into the Ark and as punishment over fifty thousand of them were smitten by the Lord. The point to be noted here is that Beth-shemesh was a priestly town! At the very beginning of his reign, David moved the Ark from Kirjath-jearim. On the way to Zion, Uzzah, one of the drivers of the cart on which the Ark was carried, put out his hand to steady the Ark, and was smitten by the Lord for touching it (2 Samuel 6:3)! When the Philistines did the same thing they were not smitten by the Lord!

What is the Lord teaching us today?

The Philistines were not instructed on the method of handling the Ark but the Israelites were! But as we see even the Priests did not know the rules. David and his people also did not know that the Ark had to be carried! They either did not know the rules or ignored them. That brought the wrath of God. The Bible has been given to us and not knowing what God expects of us cannot be an excuse to continue in sin. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:17a, “ … the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.”

My friend, as believers we cannot continue in a sinful lifestyle even unknowingly. Do not take the Lord’s instructions lightly! Obey the Word in everything!

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 18th February 2020 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 19th February 2020

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