– Scripture:

First let them make a Chest using acacia wood: make it three and three-quarters feet long and two and one-quarter feet wide and deep. Cover it with a veneer of pure gold inside and out and make a molding of gold all around it. Cast four gold rings and attach them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Make poles from acacia wood and cover them with a veneer of gold and insert them into the rings on the sides of the Chest for carrying the Chest. The poles are to stay in the rings; they must not be removed. “Place The Testimony that I give you in the Chest.

                            Exodus 25:10-16 MSG

– Reflection:

          How do you care for your most prized possession?

Consider something that you deeply value and hold significant. How do you care for it? How do you display it? What precautions have you taken to ensure its well-being? The tablets of the covenant law were highly prized by the Israelites. These tablets symbolized God’s covenant with the people, outlining how they should relate to one another and to God. God’s handwritten word was inscribed on the stone, symbolizing God’s promise to be with the people. The covenant law was not just a set of rules to be protected at all costs; it was a constant reminder of God’s deliverance and relationship with the people. Just as God’s breath gives life to the world, God’s fingers crafted the covenant. God has always been and will always be intimately involved in the rhythms of the relationship with His people.

Where do we go from here?

The covenant’s home is meant to reflect the beauty and uniqueness of the promise itself. The ark was to be constructed in specific ways to symbolize the holiness of God. Pure gold was used to encase the promise, mirroring the beauty of the relationship with God. The Israelites were not allowed to touch the ark itself but were always to carry it with poles made of acacia wood, maintaining a strong sense of reverence. Within the ark rested God’s very presence, signifying the indwelling of God’s self with the people. It was truly a prized possession and a beautiful promise!

Our Prayer for Today?

Father, please remind us daily of the uniqueness of your promise. Help us to focus on your Word, which is a wonderful and beautiful thing that surprises us every day. Thank you for your covenant with us and your promise of love and relationship. Amen.