Three Items in the Ark of the Covenant

Day 312: Hebrews 9:1-10

“In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” - Hebrews 9:4 NLT

Ever wondered why these three items were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant? All three were rich with significance when it came to Israel's history.

• Jar containing manna - Exodus 16:14-36, Numbers 11:1-14

• Aaron's staff that sprouted - Numbers 16-17

• Stone tablets (10 Commandments) - Exodus 20, 25:16, 32:19

If you take the time to read all of these passages, you'll see that each of the items was a physical reminder from times of Israelite rebellion. The people moaned about the manna, they questioned Aaron's leadership, and they regressed by worshiping a calf idol (resulting in the first tablets being smashed).

Why place warnings in the Ark? Why not put a copy of the Song of Moses in there or maybe a section of Moses' miraculous staff?

It seems clear that these three were to be perpetual reminders of their great need for Yahweh. They would not be able to live their best life by their own strength. Our natural course is sinful defiance against God, trying to create our own way, making gods of ourselves and our culture.

Even though these three were reminders of unfaithfulness, they were also to recall God’s patience and lavish grace to the people. He didn’t wipe them out. He continued to give them food, he provided them with strong leadership, and he made a second set of tablets.

Today, they help us to see how blessed we are to have a Lord and Savior like Jesus, by whose stripes we are healed (see 1 Peter 2:24). We, too, have been found unfaithful, but Jesus’ blood sets us right. God is still in the business of second, or even third, chances.