Thoughts of Another Traveler…

Recently, while reading through some old data files, I stumbled upon a devotional I had shared around 15 years ago.  I had been asked to speak at the annual planning/vision conference for a local Non-profit in our community.  At the time, I had been reading and studying the book of Joshua.  The Lord had really been speaking to me about leadership that follows great vision—which tends to prompt one to study the life of Joshua.  As I re-read the short devotional I shared many years ago, I realized that it was speaking to me again. It was as if God was not only reminding me—but speaking something new through the same story.  As always, I seem to grow the most when I write it.

First, let’s build the setting and scenario from this well-known Old Testament story. 

• Moses was called to lead God’s people to a new land, God’s Promised land
• The people were knuckleheads, introducing a constant roller coaster of following God’s plan and losing faith
• Despite God providing countless evidence of power and miraculous guidance, they got scared of the final steps to victory and voted to just be content to stay where they were
• God relented them to wandering as nomads in the wilderness for 40 years
• As always God provided a new hope and new leadership for a new generation who had repented and were following His ways
• God has once again brought them to the starting point of victory, the massive City of Jericho—the same spot where the previous generations saw “Giants” and got scared to move forward
• Through the leadership of Joshua (and frankly weariness of living as nomads in the wilderness) the decision has been made to finally follow God’s lead to the Promised land

I strongly advise (for the greatest impact of application) that one read through the back story of Exodus to understand just how important this moment in history is.  Also important is knowing that Joshua has just been appointed Moses’ replacement and has delivered his inaugural address to the people.  This public address (which draws lines in the sand with the people), includes what I adopted as my life verses (Joshua 1:7-9) many years ago:

“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

What occurs over the next days and weeks is absolutely one of the great examples of God’s leadership recorded in scripture. God provides preciseness in direction, God’s people following precise direction, and God puts on one fantastic display of miraculous power. The book of Joshua is simply an encyclopedia on faith and following God wholeheartedly to accomplish the seemingly impossible!  You may or may not be familiar with the details and backstory.  You are most likely familiar with the main story of ‘Joshua and the Walls of Jericho’ which remains one of the great miracles of the Old Testament.

Fifteen years ago, God really spoke to me through one very small verse of instruction in this story.  And this is the same verse God has reminded me of in recent days.  The verse is found in Joshua 3:1-4 and is a key part of a series of very detailed instructions that God has directed Joshua to speak to the people before they embark on the next phase of their journey.

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. ⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”

Contemplate these questions:

• If you knew that you had a fail proof formula to successfully navigate the unknown future—would you follow it?
• If you knew that every time you were facing impossible odds and a time-proven guide for success was in your hands—would you proceed with confidence?
• If you knew that a better life, the life God has promised and planned for you was just on the other side of a great step of faith—would you take it, knowing that God has provided a roadmap that has stood the test of all time?

Admittedly, it kind of sounds just like the beginning of an episode of “Shark Tank” where the presenter is making his big pitch for funding of the newest innovative contraption that will change lives forever.  Or one of those 90’s infomercials for the combo food dehydrator/juicer that will provide infinite youth and vitality—and if you order now, you get a second one for free (minus the price of shipping of course).  Yet, the truth in this passage (when fully understood) should flood our lives with hope, confidence, and assurance that becomes unshakeable.  The instructions are this simple:  Just place the Ark of the Covenant in the lead and follow it, then you will know which way to go—because you have never been this way before!  Or simply, just follow the Ark!

So, what is so important about the Ark of the Covenant and why does it always seem to be at the center of so many stories of the Old Testament?  For most people, the most familiar understanding of the power and significance of the Ark is that it has face melting power—literally!  Remember in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” when the Nazis thought they wanted the power contained inside and they pried open the lid (despite warnings from Indiana Jones not to do it)?  Yes, literally faces melted (but only the bad guys).  See this link if you are visual only believer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcR9k8o4I0w.  Ok, that was a digression that I had to include because I loved that movie.  The truth is that the significance of the Ark of the Covenant was two-fold.  The importance is understanding what the Ark represented and what the Ark contained.

Ironically, (or maybe not) after I had been reminded of this devotional I shared from 15 years ago and I began fleshing out this particular essay last week, our pastor shared an entire sermon about the significance of the Ark.  He shared how King David’s understanding of the importance of the Ark of the Covenant was key to the restoration of the presence of God to His people under his reign as King over Israel.  Powerful message of significance on what the Ark represented and why it still holds true for us today.  Here is a link to that message as a reference:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/skyline-church-oklahoma-city/id300122416?mt=2.

What has always been fascinating to me is not just what the Ark represented—but what the Ark contained.  And that is where God has recently been speaking to me in a fresh and renewed way.  Understand that the Ark of the Covenant was not just a box of overlayed gold.  It was a container with specific items which served as powerful reminders of a wholistic understanding of God.  The writer of Hebrews reminds us of these items in Hebrews 9:4:

“…the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; ⁵ and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.”

Three items are named.  A Golden pot that contained a portion of mana, Aaron’s rod that had miraculously budded, and the tablets of stone (the Ten commandments).  What is important about these items and how can these guide us as we journey every single day?  There are three profound truths that have impacted me:

• God’s Prerogative
• God’s Provision
• God’s Power

God’s Prerogative

The ark contained the Stone tables on which the law (Ten Commandments) had been written.  (Side note for clarification—these were not the original tablets written by God’s hand and handed to Moses.  Moses lost his cool with the rebellion of the people and slammed those down and crushed them.  These were the second originals carved by Moses according to God’s direction.)  We all understand and agree on the significance of the Ten Commandments.  I suppose to go deeper, we could discuss and diatribe the Old Testament law compared to New Testament Grace.  We could debate the significance of the Old Testament law as it does or does not culturally relate or apply to us today.   We could study examples of the legal fight to keep the Ten Commandments posted in our schools and government buildings and argue the various statutes of separation of Church and State.  But I do not believe any of that is relevant to the representation and symbolism of what should be important to us.  I believe they really represent God’s Prerogative. 

The base definition of the word Prerogative (Merriam-Webster.com) is this:  “an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege”   I believe God knew that He would need to continually remind his people that HE is exclusive in his right and power to create the standard of Holiness, to command obedience to standards of Holiness, to judge failures in light of holiness, and to provide the path to the forgiveness and reconciliation needed by all men.  God has always, and will always establish exclusivity to absolute truth, absolute power, and absolute holiness  (James 4:12). What does this mean for us today?  We can do it our way or God’s way.  And God’s way to Holiness is through His son Jesus!  Jesus who said, “I did not come to destroy the law, but to perfect the law.”  (Matthew 5:17) 

We certainly live in a time and culture where the masses no longer acknowledge the exclusive prerogative of God when it comes to morality, truth, sin, or law.  In fact, nearly every commandment written on those original tablets has become an irrelevant, debatable suggestion in the new order of moral relativism, humanism, and secularism.  More amazing is how organized religion and the western church have fallen right in line with the culture in order to remain ‘relevant’.  It is quite amusing if you think about it, we are not unlike the children of Israel revolting against Aaron (Moses’ brother) while Moses was up on the mountain receiving the original stone tablets of law.  They just wanted some freedom to do their own thing. They wanted a god that was cool and visual like the other nations.  They wanted to party, dance, and let it all hang out without any consequences.  Besides, the “God of Moses” had been quiet for a while, maybe He was not all that he was cracked up to be!  Our culture epitomizes the very episode which caused Moses to blow a gasket and slam down the original tablets and break them.  (Exodus 32)

No worries.  God had new tablets made.  It was HIS prerogative.  And He does not change!  Today we are facing many unknowns in our future.  I am convinced we all have paths to walk where we have never been before.  May we never forget that if we are going to navigate the narrow road—it is HIS way, not ours.  God’s prerogative is that He owns the exclusivity to absolute truth, and his truth and word must go before us and lead us.  We can kick against it, or put it behind us, but we can expect that if we do either, we will wander in the wilderness instead of celebrating in the promised land.

God’s Provision

The ark also contained a golden jar containing Manna.  If you are unfamiliar with Manna, Manna was the miraculous, life-sustaining bread that God sent from heaven to feed his people as they wandered the wilderness.  Once again, this miracle was God’s direct response to provide provision for His people.  People who were frequently complaining, grumbling, and losing faith in Moses’ leadership and God’s guidance (how quickly they forgot that God had just parted the Red Sea and escorted them across on dry land, while commanding the waters to then slam shut on the evil Egyptians in pursuit). I always note something very cool here as a reminder to myself.  God didn’t just provide them some stale, crusty bread so that they did not starve.  Despite their lack of faith, God provided five-star dessert bread.  Exodus 16:31 says this:

“And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.”

Why in the world would a golden pot of Manna be placed into the Ark of the Covenant?  Well, “Just in case the Priests who had to carry the ark got hungry they would have a quick snack available” …is not the correct answer.  God wanted to make sure that His people never, ever forget that when they have a need—HE will provide.  Even when we grumble and complain and don’t deserve it—HE will provide.  And many times, when all we need to survive is crusty, old bread—HE will provide warm sopapillas drizzled in honey and cinnamon sugar.  Icing on the cake, so to speak.

May God forgive us every single day that we fail to acknowledge His provision in our lives.  May God forgive us when we grumble, complain, and lose faith at just the slightest test of faith or trial of life.  May God have mercy on us when so quickly forget the provisions of the past that sustained us to the present.  May God continually remind us that it is His provision every day that sustains us in this journey we call life.  How important is this symbolic pot of bread sent from God?  Important enough that Jesus replayed the miracle when he fed the five thousand.  Following that miracle in John chapter 6 we see Jesus reference the miracle of Manna to teach a new lesson.

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  ³⁴ Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” ³⁵ And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

The Manna of the Old Testament came to fulfill physical hunger.  Jesus perfected and fulfilled provision, just like He perfected and fulfilled the law.  God provides so much more than just simple bread to cure physical hunger.  He sent the “Bread of life” in Jesus who is the assurance and provisioning of our very souls to eternal life.  If we follow God where He is leading (even into a place we have never been before), we have a promise that should always go before us.  He IS our provision.  He will not let us walk the path He called us to alone—if we put Him in front and let Him lead.

God’s Power—Aaron’s Rod

Aaron’s rod is probably the least recognized item. However, I believe it is super significant in its symbolism.  The rod itself was a long rod/staff made of a branch from an Almond tree.  Aaron carried this rod with him wherever he went. Maybe not quite as famous as Moses’ rod, which was held up to part the red sea.  But it was a rod credited with several previous miracles.  It was the rod which turned into a snake in front of Pharaoh—and then swallowed up the snakes created by Pharaoh’s magicians. It was the rod that touched and turned the waters of Egypt to blood.  Read Exodus chapters 7-8 for various examples of how God chose to use Aaron’s rod.  Several years later, this same rod would again become a symbol of God’s authority and power. 

The story is found in Numbers 16 and 17.  Surprisingly, the people of God have decided to be knuckleheads once again.  This time a group has decided that Moses and Aaron have too much authority.  Essentially, they accuse God’s called leaders of being self-proclaimed and they ultimately incite a revolt against Moses and Aaron. People are following them and turning from God. What ensues just infuriates God and He brings some swift and brutal judgement.  Read both chapters and you will get the whole scoop.  At the end of it all, God decides to end this foolish debate once and for all.  The wooden rod of each of the top twelve leaders is commanded to be brought to Moses.  Moses places them in the tabernacle and leaves them overnight.  Aaron’s rod miraculously blooms with flowers and even produces new almonds in a show of God’s authority and power.  Frankly, this was a God mic drop to silence the critics.

Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. ⁹ Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.  ¹⁰ And the Lord said to Moses, “Bring Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die.” ¹¹ Thus did Moses; just as the Lord had commanded him, so he did.

Aaron’s rod was to forever become symbolic of God’s ultimate power—the power to bring new life where only death existed.  This story reminds me of how the demonic forces of evil convinced people that Jesus was a fraud, a self-proclaimed prophet who needed to be taught a lesson.  They rallied and called for His death.  In their pride and arrogance, they sacrificially served up the One who could bring them life.  They saw death on that cross and death in that tomb.  But God trumped them with the ultimate trump card.  Aaron’s rod was God’s reminder to never stand against the one who can create life out of death.  Jesus perfectly fulfilled this symbolism when He descended to the gates of Hell and conquered death and judgement in finality.  Aaron’s rod is still a symbol to each of us that we have a promise.  We can walk through the valley of death, and not fear any evil around us.  Put that in front of your walk daily and never forget that God is the author of bringing life out of death!  Checkmate, God!

Where are you headed?  What journey does God have for you in coming days?  What paths are you destined to walk?  Well, I would not even attempt to tell you specifics, but I can tell you this.  If you are believing and trusting in God to lead you where He wants you to go, if you are praying for God to bring revival, and if you are praying for God to bring you into a new land of growth and ministry…the odds are that somewhere in the path ahead is a Jericho.   High, thick, impenetrable walls on the outside.  Big strong forces of giant opposition on the inside.  Any ‘promised land’ is typically on the other side of the unknown and a war we cannot win.  Our next victory may lie just beyond the tangled valley of despair we don’t want to walk through.  Our breakthrough may be that very small light at the end of the tunnel so dark we cannot even see the path to walk.  Remember the promise and instruction God spoke to Joshua:

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. ⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”

Follow the Ark.  Don’t get in front of it.  Don’t leave it behind.  And never forget it or take it for granted.  If you acknowledge God’s Prerogative, trust in God’s Provision, and live in God’s Power—it doesn’t matter that you don’t know the road ahead.  It doesn’t matter if you face a Jericho.  It doesn’t matter if you face death itself.  Just follow the Ark as it goes before, remember what it represents and the miracles which the items inside remind us of. 

The beauty of it all?  We don’t need Indiana Jones to find the real lost ark to capture its mysterious face melting power.   And we don’t need the actual stone tablets, the beautiful golden pot of mana, or a custom replica of Aaron’s blooming rod for power. Jesus is the perfection and fulfillment of the law—He was God’s Prerogative in the flesh.  Jesus is the Bread of life—He is both our daily bread and eternal life.  He was God’s always God’s plan of ultimate provision.  Jesus is Power over death and sin.  He told us that He was the way, the truth, and the life.  And He did conquer death, ascend to the right hand of the father, and then send His Spirit to dwell in those who believe. 

The Ark and the artifacts inside symbolized the presence and spirit of God dwelling among His people for thousands of years. But never forget that when Jesus conquered death, the veil of the temple was torn.  From that moment God’s power was no longer isolated to a physical piece of furniture containing miraculous artifacts.  The Ark always pointed to Jesus and God’s ultimate plan to place His spirit direct inside His people.  The same spirit of Power that conquered death resides within us—and we never, ever need to take a step in any direction without remembering that power that leads us.  Jesus is our Ark and He embodies the perfection every artifact that was inside the Ark.  His Spirit calls us every day to believe and trust in His prerogative, His provision, and His power.

Are you a bit scared of the future and the unknown path ahead?  So were the Children of Israel.

Are you feeling defeated in your faith and not sure you can move forward?  So did the Children of Israel.

Be reminded of what God has already done in your life with prerogative, provision, and power.

Follow the Ark!

It is a fail-proof plan.  It is a time-proven guide.  It is a roadmap to victory.

You have never been where you are going, and that is exactly where God is leading!