Symbolism In the Ark of the Covenant

Exodus 25:10-11
"Have the people make an Ark of acacia wood - a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. Overlay it inside and outside with pure gold, and run a molding of gold all around it.

I'm using the book, "Seeing Christ in the Tabernacle" by Ervin N. Hershberger to deepen and compliment my study of this section of scripture.

According to Hershberger, the gold represents the deity and glory of Jesus Christ and the Shittim Wood (acacia wood) represents the incorruptible humanity of Christ.* So the fact that both were used in the making of the Ark of the Covenant points to the reality that Jesus was both fully God and fully human. If he was not fully God, then the cross would not have been sufficient to cover our sins. If he was not fully human, then the sacrifice would not have applied to us.

Thank you, Jesus for being both totally God and totally human for my sake!

Even the dimensions of the Ark have symbolic significance: 

Length: 2 1/2 cubits = 5 half-cubits or units of measure: 5 = Grace

Breadth and height: 1 1/2 cubits = 3 half-cubits: 3 = Trinity

Vertical girth: 4 x 1 1/2 = 6 cubits: 6 = the number of man

Horizontal girth: 2 x 2 1/2 + 2 x 1/2 = 5 + 3 = 8 cubits: 8 = New Beginning*

"Maybe that's manipulating numbers, but it simply illustrates what the Bible plainly teaches: the Trinity (3), by Grace (5), offers Man (6) a New Beginning (8). 'If any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; all things are become NEW' (2 Cor. 5:17)." *

Lord, Jesus! I want to remain in you! I praise you for the symbolism found in the Ark and for the new beginning you gave me.

Lord, God, you are so awesome and mighty! Only YOU could have worked out all these details hundreds of years before Christ was even born. I praise your great and Holy name! In Jesus' name, amen.

*Hersberger, Ervin N. (2010) Seeing Christ in the Tabernacle. Harrisonburg, VA: Vision Publishers.

MEMORY VERSES

All Have Sinned

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

All Have Sinned

All Have Sinned

Isaiah 53:6

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6
All Have Sinned