Last week, my pastor reached out to me and informed me that I would be leading the teachings in our church, and my main topic was the Ark of the Covenant that God had given to the Israelites. I knew I had to research and learn more about this topic, as I knew it was a good topic to remind the church of God’s presence and promises to his people. Before starting my research, I noted my main topic, “What does the ark symbolize in the bible?”
In the Bible, the Ark symbolizes the presence of God amongst his people, just like he was among the Israelites. The Ark also symbolizes promises and providence towards his people. The Ark also symbolized God’s holiness, as no one was allowed to touch the Ark lest they die, as suggested in Numbers 17:12.
So, join me to the end as I explain in detail what the Ark of the Covenant was. I will also discuss the importance of the Ark of the Covenant and its symbolic meanings, among other topics.
What Was the Ark of the Covenant?
The Ark of Covenant was a wooden chest-like box which God had instructed Moses and the Israelites to construct. It was to act like the house to put all the commands God would give the Israelites. The story of the Ark of the Covenant is found in Exodus 25. God first instructs Moses to lead the Israelites into bringing offerings before him. God gave clear instructions on what the Israelites were to bring as offerings. These were bronze, silver, and gold. The Israelites were also to bring purple and blue scarlet yarn, goat hair, fine linen, acacia woods, and other materials. All these materials were to be used together to create a chest to serve as a sanctuary where God would dwell among them.
Contents of the Ark of the Covenant
The Bible suggests that God gave clear instructions on how the Ark of the Covenant would be made and what would be put in it. Exodus 25 records how the Israelites were to bring different offerings, including silver, gold, and bronze. They were also to bring purple and blue scarlet yarn, goat hair, and acacia woods, among other offerings, to construct the Ark of the Covenant.
This Ark of Covenant was to be made in the shape of a box with an overlay of gold. This box was to measure 2.5 cubits long, 1.5 cubits wide, and 1.5 cubits high. The box was to have a cover known as the seat of mercy with two Cherubim facing each other. The Ark had to contain four rings on each side where long rods were put to ensure people could carry it. After its completion, God instructed Moses to put three things in it, the tablets that contained the commandments, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s staff.
What Is So Important about the Ark of the Covenant?
The Ark of Covenant was very important, especially to the Israelites, as it represented the presence of God in the land and his holiness. This Ark was so holy that anyone who came in contact with it would instantly die. The Ark was usually put or stored in the holy of holies, in the Tabernacle, and was only approached by the high priests. Leviticus 16 records God’s instructions to Moses concerning how the Ark of the Covenant was to be used for the atonement of sins for the priest and the rest of the Israelites.
Every year, a priest, which in this case was Aaron, was to enter the place where the Ark of the Covenant was stored and had to sprinkle the blood of the animal the Israelites had sacrificed on top of the mercy seat. The mercy seat was the top that covered the box of the Ark of Covenant, and it was said that the spirit of God hovered around it. The blood was to appease God so that he would forgive the Israelites of their sins and become righteous again. No one else was to enter the room while the priest was in, and everyone was to wait until the priest finished the cleansing process.
The Ark of the Covenant is also important because it housed the ten commandments God gave Moses. These commandments played a bigger role in the Israelites’ lives as they guided them on what to do and not what to do. Today, Christians know the ten commandments by their heart and are reminded of what God calls them to do and what to avoid.
5 symbolic meanings of the Ark of Covenant
The presence of God
The Ark of the Covenant symbolized the presence of God among the Israelites. In Exodus, God instructs Moses that only the priests can go before the Ark of the Covenant, as anyone who attempts to go near or touch it will die. Additionally, Exodus 40:34-35 records how one time Moses could not enter the tent of the meeting where the Tabernacle that housed the Ark of the Covenant was, as the glory of the LordLord had already descendent in the form of a cloud and had covered the entire Tabernacle.
Symbolized God’s protection over the Israelites
The Ark of the Covenant also symbolized God’s protection over the Israelites. In Numbers 10:28-36, the Bible suggests how the Ark of the Covenant led Moses and other Israelites as they set out to the land God promised to give them. The book also records that after they set out, the Ark of the Covenant went before them, and the cloud of the LordLord was over them every day until they reached their camp.
It also acted as a symbol of the sacrifice that was to be made for our sins.
The Ark of the Covenant also symbolized Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice for our sins when he was crucified on the cross and shed his blood for us. During the time of Moses, the top of the Ark of the Covenant, known as the Mercy of Seat, was used where the animal’s blood was sprinkled on as the priest repented for his sins and those of the rest the Israelites. Today, Christians do not have to worry about the mercy of the seat, as Jesus Christ already shed his blood for our sins, making us clean before God.
A symbol that God was the provider
The Ark of the Covenant also symbolized God’s provision to his people. Among the things that were kept in the Ark of the Covenant was a jar of manna. In Exodus 16:31-34, Moses instructs Aaron to take a jar of manna and place it before the Lord, which most scholars believe Moses meant in the Ark of the Covenant. The jar of manna reminded future generations of Israelites how God took care of their people while they were in the wilderness.
The Ark of the Covenant also symbolized the throne of God.
The throne of God is a place where a Christian can approach God with faith and be able to communicate with him. During the time of Moses, the Ark of the Covenant was used as a symbol of God’s throne, as God informs Moses that he will be meeting him and speaking with him from above the mercy seat concerning the commandments he had given him and the Israelites.
What was inside the Ark of the Covenant?
Bible scholars from got question organization suggest three items in the Ark of the Covenant. The first thing put in the Ark of the Covenant was the stone tablets with the ten commandments. God instructs Moses on constructing the Ark of the Covenant as suggested in Exodus 25:12-16. He then commands him to put the tablets of the covenant law in the Ark of the Covenant he would give him.
The second item put in the Ark of the Covenant, as suggested by religious scholars, is a jar of manna. Moses instructed Aaron to take a jar of manna. He put it in the Ark of the Covenant to act as a reminder to the future generations of Israel of how God had provided for their fellow people while they were in the wilderness for forty days. Exodus 16:34 records that Aaron put the jar of manna together with the tablets with the ten commandments in the Ark of the Covenant to be preserved.
The last thing that is speculated to have been put inside the Ark of the Covenant is the staff of Aaron. Numbers 17:1-8 records God instructing Moses to assemble the twelve staffs from each tribe and placing them in the tent of meeting in front of the Ark of the Covenant. God’s command was to show the Israelites who he had chosen, as his staff would sprout and end whatever disagreement was happening among the Israelites. Moses did as instructed; the next day, only Aaron’s staff had sprouted and even produced almonds.
The Lord then instructed Moses to put Aaron’s staff back in the Ark of the Covenant, to be kept as a sign to those who were rebellious to his chosen leadership, as recorded in Numbers 17:10.
How was the Ark of the Covenant used Outside the Tabernacle
The Ark was also useful outside the Tabernacle, as it helped the Israelites win some of the battles. Joshua 6:1-5 records how the Ark of the Covenant helped Joshua and his army bring down the wall of Jericho. During this time, the gates of Jericho had been tightly secured, and no Israelite had access to what was inside them.
However, the Lord informed Joshua that he was giving him Jericho along with the kings and people in it, and he had to use the Ark of the Covenant to bring down the walls of Jericho. Joshua’s army was to march with the Ark of the Covenant around the city for six days as seven priests blew trumpets with them. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city again seven times, and the army was to shout loudly whenever the trumpets would get blown. The wall of Jericho would then collapse, and the army of Israel would access what was inside it and destroy it.
What happened to the Ark of the Covenant?
There are several theories about what happened to the Ark of the Covenant. The last time the Ark of Covenant is mentioned in the Bible is in Jeremiah 3:16, where God is promising the Israelites that the Ark of the Covenant will no longer be of importance to the children of Israel when their numbers would have increased in the Promised Land, as no one will remember or even miss it.
2 Chronicles 35:1-6 also records the last possible location where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. In the book, King Josiah instructs the Levites to take back the sacred art of the covenant to the temple that Solomon had built in Jerusalem, just as God had instructed.
The Bible, however, records that Forty years after the Ark had stayed in the temple in Jerusalem, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon managed to capture Jerusalem, which he, in turn, raided the temple. He returned to the temple a few years later, took what had been left in the temple, and burned the whole city down, as suggested in 2 Kings 24:10-16. With this, several bible scholars suggest that King Nebuchadnezzar took the Ark of the Covenant or destroyed it with the whole city.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.