A Discarded Box
The study of the Ark of the Covenant is a fascinating subject. Romanticized tales capture the imagination of its whereabouts. Some believe that it was taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, others believe that Jeremiah took it to Egypt. A shrine exists in Ethiopia which supposedly houses “the prize of Indiana Jones.” There is an Irish myth that says Jeremiah and the Egyptian princess Tea Tephi fled with it to Ireland. According to Jonathan Swift (“Gulliver’s Travels”) who was born in Ireland in 1667, the Ark was taken to America. One of the arguments in support of that is a petroglyph in Holbrook, Arizona (see insert). It appears to be an Indian carving of the Ark of the Covenant that its supporters say could not have been made if the Ark had not been previously seen. This leads some to conclude that it is now resting in one of the caves of the Grand Canyon. Fascinating speculation – but most likely untrue.
Jeremiah 3:16b says,
“ the days are coming when “they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore.’”
That is a fantastic statement. Jeremiah says the day will come when the Ark will not even cross people’s minds!
While the Temple represented the glory and grandeur of God to the people, the Ark of the Covenant was its heart. It symbolized the holiness, power, and presence of God. It had led the people through the wilderness, gone before them in battle, and was the centerpiece of David’s worship service. It was the most direct representation of God the people knew. Its construction was commanded by Moses as a copy of the true tabernacle shown to him on the mountain. Of all of the priestly ritual, the most important occurred when every year the high priest approached this piece of furniture to atone for the sins of the nation, and now Jeremiah is saying that a day is coming when the people will not even think about it! How can that be? How can God, who ordained its construction, and the rules on how to handle it, now discard the Ark as useless?
The answer lies three verses later when God also says of that day,
“You shall call Me, ‘My Father,’ and not turn away from Me.” (Jer 3:19b).
You see, the Fatherhood of God swallows up all other notions that demand our affection and loyalty. The Fatherhood of God states that He is the One who brought all things into existence, but also demands that He must never forsake that which He birthed. It requires that out of His immense love He must tend to every need, regardless of the sacrifice, and no matter how minute the necessity which calls upon Him. The words He spoke to Jacob, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” are the same that He speaks to all of His kingdom. A wooden box or a glorious temple are not needed; In fact, they are a distraction that must be discarded.
Many people say that the Fatherhood of God was not known in the Old Testament. That simply is not true. It has been the centerpiece of His heart since the beginning. The Creator is also the abundant Provider and meticulous Nurturer of all that He has created – especially of every son or daughter, but even of every one that we might call, “heathen.”