Don't touch that!

I can't write this without thinking about my grandkids. If you put a plate full of identical cookies on the counter and tell them to get one as a snack, they will touch every one before they decide which one to get. I guess we all have our quirks.

Last week we saw how the Israelites kept wanting meat and complaining about how they used to have so much fish. They were complaining, Moses was complaining, everyone was complaining. God gave the quail, but the big point was, it wasn't in the camp. They had to leave the camp (God's will) to get their desire. There were drastic consequences. Sometimes keeping up with the Joneses is tough. It seems harsh to us today, even downright unfair that this cost was so high.

We've mentioned the arc of the covenant several times. I'd like to dig into this a little more this week and then end with another story that seems a little too harsh (Uzzah in 2 Samuel chapter 6). Uzzah touched the arc when the oxen and the cart wobbled a little. God struck him down for this. I'd like us to discuss this and try to get to the heart of "why". Are we doing the same thing today??

Here's a little background to help us get started (thanks to Bard - another thing I want to discuss):

The Ark of the Covenant was a gold-plated wooden chest that contained the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna. It was the most sacred object in Judaism and was carried by the Levites during the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness and into battle.

Who had charge over the Ark?

The Levites were responsible for carrying and caring for the Ark. They were the only ones who could touch it, and they had to do so with great reverence. The Ark was kept in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and he did so only once a year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

How was the Ark used?

The Ark was a symbol of God's presence among the Israelites. It was also used in the worship of God. The blood of a sacrificed animal was sprinkled on the Ark's lid, the mercy seat, on Yom Kippur to atone for the sins of the people.

What was in the Ark?

The Ark contained the following items:

• The two tablets of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 25:16)

• Aaron's rod, which budded to show that God had chosen him to be the priest (Numbers 17:10)

• A pot of manna, the food that God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:33)

Bible verses

Here are some Bible verses that mention the Ark of the Covenant:

• Exodus 25:10-22: Instructions for building the Ark

• Exodus 37:1-9: The Ark is built

• Exodus 40:1-38: The Ark is placed in the Tabernacle

• 1 Kings 8:1-11: The Ark is placed in the Temple

• 2 Chronicles 35:3: The Ark is returned to the Temple after it had been captured by the Babylonians

• Hebrews 9:4: The Ark is described as containing the golden urn holding the manna, Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant

The Ark of the Covenant is a mysterious and fascinating object. It is a reminder of God's presence among His people and of His covenant with them.

See ya tomorrow!