The Contents of The Ark
The three sections of the Tabernacle (Court, Holy Place and Most Holy) represented three stages in the life of the believer: Preparation, Walking in the Light, Sharing the Glory. In order to attain unto the latter it is necessary to consider and apply the principles set forth in its furniture, including the contents of the Ark.

THE ten basic commandments of the Law were inscribed on two tablets of stone, and delivered unto Moses (Exod. 34. See also the Law of Moses by R. Roberts, pp.103-104). They were also known as The Testimony" (Heb. eduwth, "witness"), or the "Tables of the covenant" (Heb. 9:15; ep. Exod. 34:10).

The Law was designed to make manifest the reality of sin, and to educate and discipline the people in preparation for the future inheritance promised in the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Mosaic covenant was accepted by the nation in the terms: "All that Yahweh hath spoken we will do and be obedient" (Exod. 24:7). It therefore governed the relationship between Yahweh and His people; and also between the members of His family

The Tables of the Commandments were the first items to be placed inside the Ark, thus indicating that the Divine Laws and Precepts are of first importance. The original stones were Divinely provided and engraved by the hand of Yahweh (Exod. 24:12).

Later there was given to Israel another manifestation of Divine Law and Truth-The Word made flesh (John 1:14; 14:16; 15:1; 17:26). He was the "Logos", the mind, thought, intelligence of Deity (Read Eureka Vol.1 p.314). The stones given to Moses pointed forward to him whom Yahweh provided, being His only begotten son obedient in all things, his character engraven by his Father's hand (Zech. 3:9). Therefore he displayed his Father's truth, law and character. He became the basis of the "new covenant" by which a true, faithful family is being gathered together and developed, to the honour of Yahweh.

But the Israel of Christ's day rejected the "chief cornerstone," even though he had been engraven by Yahweh's hand.

The significance of the Tables of the Law extend still further. Paul (see 2 Cor. 3:3) contrasted them with the effect of Yahweh's Word upon the fleshy "tables of the heart" (or mind), a reference drawn from Prov. 3:1-4 and Icr. 31:33. The constant passage of Divine truth, read, heard, understood, believed and repeated, passing through the brain tissue, becomes a law in the thought processes of our mind that flows out in words and actions (cp. Psa. 119:97,99); a manifestation in us of the revealed mind of Yahweh.

Furthermore the Tables of the Testimony were a prophecy of the kind of people who, in the future time of their inheritance, will become the revealed Word of Yahweh's Truth throughout the world. They are described in Rev. 12:17; 19:10 as those who did "keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ". They are described in the day of their exaltation, as those who have "his Father's name written in their foreheads" (Rev. 14:1; 22:4). They were "sealed doctrinal" in such a manner that the truth, understood and believed, was faithfully practiced.

Into a Golden Pot for which neither size, capacity nor dimensions are given, was placed a measured amount of manna. It was a selected quantity taken from the food with which Yahweh daily fed His people in the wilderness (Exod. 16:12-22). It was Yahweh's food (Psa. 78:24,25), the food of angels, but Israel needed it each day and they were given very explicit instructions concerning its gathering and use. When these were nor strictly observed they either hungered, or the manna corrupted.

It was first provided after the glory had been seen (Exod. 16:10), and flesh had been eaten in the evening (vv. 12,13).

Moses later explained to the Israelites that the manna was given to them so that they would know that "man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of Yahweh" (Deut. 8:3). And that "word" needed to be partaken of every day: "in the morning" after the rising sun had drawn up its covering dew. It was food for the morning of the new day. It was from this food that the measured omer (approx. 1 pint) was placed in the Golden Pot which was later placed in the Ark (Heb. 9:4). It was preserved throughout the wilderness journeyings and possibly for some time afterwards.

Jesus declared of himself in John 6:57, "As the living Father bath sent me... so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me". He was given to Israel to "eat" in the "evening" of the Mosaic age, after they had seen Yahweh's "Glory" manifest in the flesh (John 1:14). He was the "true bread" out of heaven (John 6:50,51,58). He was the "Logos", the spirit of Deity, the true bread given as life-imparting spiritual food (see Eureka vol.1 p.311). He declared: "ifanyman eat thisbread, he shall live in the Aion" (John 6:51). His teachings are food that will produce eternal life (John 6:47-53). He was corruptible like the daily wilderness manna; but he is now incorruptible like the ArkIManna, being hid in God (at the right hand of power), concealed from human eyes.

He is waiting to be revealed in the morning of the new day, sent forth as Yahweh's food in the Kingdom. That apocalypse will be associated with a numberless host which the rising sun of righteousness will draw to himself in resurrection as the dew of the morning.

Meanwhile, his word (his expression of his Father's truth) has been preserved and is incorruptible for it "liveth and abideth for ever".

Those who, responding to the Grace of the Divine calling, have entered into the body of Christ (Col. 3:3,4) will, after the intervening night, be as dew upon the ground in the resurrection morning (Isa. 26:19). They will have seen Yahweh's manifested Glory in His son and will have "eaten" of his "flesh". This manna is now concealed, sleeping through the night of death, waiting to be revealed in the "morning" when the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his beams (Mal 4:2-See Eureka Vol. I, pp. 309-3l4). That "manna" will be like the bread which Israel was given to eat: it was concealed in the watery substance which evaporated as the result of the sun's warmth. But when it will be apocalyptically revealed in the new day it will be as food for the nations, as the people partake of the teachings of the incorruptible bread (the saints). It will be the food of faith that will result in eternal life for the "ages of the ages

The "prophecy" of the manna also relates to those who, today, form part of the multitudinous host who are members of the One Body of Christ. They all wait in faithful patience for the Sun's rising so that, by his coming and presence, he will reveal them in glorious splendor by acting upon them with the healing beams of immortality (Phil. 3:20,2~; 1 Cor. 15:45 in which the words "a quickening spirit" are also rendered, "a life-giving spirit"). Those who "eat" of him today, will then partake of spiritual food which is incorruptible (John 6:57; Rev. 2:17). It is therefore necessary for us to eat daily of the "manna" of the Word of Truth. That which we partake of today will not "keep" until the morrow. We need to "eat" again tomorrow to sustain the spiritual man during this wilderness experience.

To neglect, or refuse, to eat of the Lord's life-giving truth, is to perish, as Israel would have done had they refused it in the wilderness. Later they did reject Christ's teachings and, for this rejection of the Divine "food ", they perished both individually and nationally in the retribution of AD 70 (see Hosea 4:6).

The rod (Heb. mattah, a branch or extension) has been considered to be a branch of the almond tree which is the first to awaken after the long night of winter. It was a branch which Yahweh had made and which He later caused to live again and to produce fruit.

An "ecclesial" dispute had developed in Israel and the issue was whether the High Priesthood was an appointment based upon human selection or upon God manifestation. So that an authoritative answer should be given, Yahweh called together the Levites, as the symbols of all the firstfruits in the nation (Num. 17:2-4,6,7). During the night, Yahweh indicated His choice and made judgment in the matter that had troubled Israel. His power operated upon Aaron's Rod, granting it new life so that, miraculously, it blossomed and brought forth fruit. ln the morning His judgment and selection were manifested before the nation (vv. 5,8,9). That revelation dispelled the murmurings of God's people. Under the circumstances His authority could not be challenged.

This branch was then taken (v.10) and placed again within the Most Holy Place, in the Ark (Heb. 9:4). It constituted a token for the remembrance of the people. As Aaron typified the High Priest, the rod pointed forward to the confirmation of his appointment by his resurrection. Inside the Most Holy Place in heaven there is one who was raised up as the "Branch", or "the rod of the stem of Jesse". Heis Yahweh's firstborn, the "only begotten" (John 3:16), who was brought into His Father's house at 12 years of age (Luke 2:49).

Israel was in rebellion against its God Who displayed His wilt and word before thcm in the very name that Jesus bore. Yet they rejected him, declaring "We have no king but Caesar." But he was made "the firstfruits" of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-23) and was displayed before Israel in power. The power that had caused Aaron's rod to bud now caused this Branch to bring forth fruit. The Branch which Yahweh had "made strong for Himself" (Psa. 80:15), had now become the "man of His right hand".

This choice by Yahweh of High Priest for His people, was confirmed by his resurrection (Acts 2:24; 10:40; Phil. 2:8,9; Heb. 7:15,16; 8:1). He was raised from the dead as "the Rod, the Branch" (Isa. 11:1); and then elevated to the right hand of Yahweh (Psa. 110: 1,2). But as the branch of Aaron produced flower and fruit, sobas Christ (Acts. 15:14; 1 Pet. 2:9). His people "were once dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1) but have been "quickened together with Christ" (v.5). Now "hidden with Christ" (Col. 3:3), they await the revelation at the judgment seat when divine power will be manifested in them in the bestowal of eternal life

While we await the "morning" of the new day, there is to be developed in each saint the "fruit of the spirit" (Gal. 5:22,23). However, the fullness of its beauty will not be fully seen until the light of the New Day shines upon it.