Daily Devotions
Exodus
"Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool." Psalm 132:7
Text: Exodus 25 : 10 -12
SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THE ARK OF THE TESTIMONY
God gave very specific details concerning the building of the ark of the testimony. This is consistent with the way He had been giving instructions to Moses concerning all other relevant matters!
“And they shall make an ark of acacia wood;
two and a half cubits shall be its length,
a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.
And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out
you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of
gold all around.”
EXODUS 25:10-11
1. “An ark of acacia wood”
The word “ark” is the same word that one would use to call “a chest” or a simple “box”. (The word “ark” in this context must not be confused with “Noah’s ark”)!
2. The actual size of the ark
The ancient Hebrews used “the cubit” quite consistently in their measurements (This study is called “metrology”. A cubit is equivalent to 18 inches or 0.4572 m). The ark was therefore not very large and highly portable. (Length, 45 inches or 1.143 m; Width, 27 inches or 0.6858 m; Height, 27 inches or 0.6858 m).
a) The small size of the ark made it easier to be carried from place to place.
b) The smallness was designed to house the Testimony of the Lord.
3. “You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out”
The ark was to be especially covered with “pure gold”. This specification came from the Lord Himself! No genuine believer who loved the Lord would begrudge the use of pure gold to overlay the ark of the testimony.
THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE ARK OF THE TESTIMONY
Till the children of Israel reached the Promised Land of Canaan, they would have to carry the Ark of the Testimony. This was factored in when the plans for the Ark were given.
“You shall cast four rings of gold for it,
and put them in its four corners;
two rings shall be on one side,
and two rings on the other side.”
EXODUS 25:12
The Lord did not leave out any detail! Moses must have learned much about how he should go about doing the Lord’s work. Every detail must be carefully and lovingly looked into! Poles for carrying the ark would be put through these rings!