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Daily Devotion: Exodus 25:10-16

Exodus 25:10-16     "And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee." 

The core of the ark was made of wood from the acacia tree (shittim wood). This is reported to be the hardest of hardwoods. Many varieties have long, sharp thorns on them. Some scholars think that the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus’ head was made from the acacia tree.

The wood of the acacia is not prone to rot or disease like soft woods. In the same manner, the man Jesus was not prone to sin. Although He was truly man, He was also truly God. God the Father dwelled in Him (John 14:11) and could be seen through Him (John 14:7). Even though He was truly man, He was covered inside and out by the grace and love of the Father.

Although He was made a little lower than the angels, He was crowned with glory and honor. Four Gospels were left on record for us that we might have a record of His love, His judgement, and His might. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are witnessed in the Gospels, and both of them testify of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. They are given so that men might never lay their hands on the ark of the testimony but rather bear it as God gave the pattern. 

God has shown us both the simplicity and the glory of Christ. He has testified to us, through Him, of His everlasting love and His righteousness. We should never try to put our hands (take credit for) what God has done for us through Jesus Christ and revealed to us by the word of His Holy Spirit. Let us rejoice that we are allowed to bear it before the world to His glory!


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