Ark of the covenant

[thinktank]

Why did God decide to live in a box?

He was in a cloud, when he led the slaves out of Egypt. Was there a reason for living in the box?

[Nathan]

For me, the box was only symbolizing part of it.  He lived "in" the nation of his chosen people "through" the tabernacle.  The ark contained his heart.  It wasn't until Christ died that his heart became exposed (ripped veil) and poured out into the rest of his body.

But it was the "tent" that he lived in . . .which is what Paul describes us as. . .

2 Corinthians 5
1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

Which once again questions the idea that noone is in heaven after they die . . .but that's for another thread

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: It's also symbolic of the pattern of a new creation man. The wood (carnal man) was covered with gold inside (inward anointing) and outside (outward anointing), and had a covering in a crown-like design. Blessings....

[micah7:9]

Do you believe there was/is a physical "ark" and do you feel it will be found in, near, or around Mt. Ararat?
Is there a physical ark? By the same train of thought, was the flood of Noe, a world wide, earth encompassing flood? Or was it a flood of only a particular area?
Is the OT  a history book for us to learn from, or do you think, understand, or have any thoughts that the OT is a book of spiritual wealth for the Sons, the Overcomers to learn and gain strenght to walk the walk?
I say if or should they find a "ark" and say this is Noe's ark, then we may as well toss the Bible and forget it.  Peace and Love Through Jesus

[WhiteWings]

Do you believe there was/is a physical "ark"

Yes.

and do you feel it will be found in, near, or around Mt. Ararat?

No

Is there a physical ark? By the same train of thought, was the flood of Noe, a world wide, earth encompassing flood?

No

Or was it a flood of only a particular area?

The area of the garden of Eden. It was a valley.

I say if or should they find a "ark" and say this is Noe's ark, then we may as well toss the Bible and forget it.

I don't understand that conclusion.

[Cardinal]

Do you believe there was/is a physical "ark" and do you feel it will be found in, near, or around Mt. Ararat?

Yes, and possibly.

Is there a physical ark? By the same train of thought, was the flood of Noe, a world wide, earth encompassing flood? Or was it a flood of only a particular area?

Yes. And I believe it was world wide. Scientists have found evidence in the taking of core samples, the same time of sedimentary evidence at roughly the same depth, world wide, from what I have read/seen.

Is the OT  a history book for us to learn from, or do you think, understand, or have any thoughts that the OT is a book of spiritual wealth for the Sons, the Overcomers to learn and gain strenght to walk the walk?

It's all that and more. Google the acronym "PARDES".

I say if or should they find a "ark" and say this is Noe's ark, then we may as well toss the Bible and forget it.  Peace and Love Through Jesus

I don't understand that conclusion, either.

[Beloved Servant]

I don't understand that conclusion, either.

[Nathan]

My answers line up with Cards on this one.  At the same time, even though we see the gospel reaching the whole world of "that day" rather than the whole world of this generation, which to be honest, if there is life in any form . . .God's creation . . .there is the gospel.  Just because it doesn't come out of man's mouth, doesn't mean the true gospel isn't being proclaimed.

But say that the flood only covered the whole world known to them of that day rather than the entire earth as we know it . . .so what?  I don't see the problem.  I personally believe that it was the whole earth but that's just me.  We're to "believe" in "faith" and not base our faith on proof or fact.  I've said this before, but the Pharisees had all the facts and the facts only kept them bound. 

If you want to build your faith on fact . . .then the first place I'd start isn't with the ark, it isn't with the inventions of men or the mythical teachings . . .I'd start with the dinosaurs . . .if you can explain their origin in the 6 thousand year timeframe of Scripture, then maybe you can throw away your faith and find your righteousness in knowledge.  Until then, I'm relying on faith over knowledge . .hands down.

[micah7:9]

Done :sigh:

[Nathan]

Is there frustration in your reply?

[Molly]

Why did God decide to live in a box?

He was in a cloud, when he led the slaves out of Egypt. Was there a reason for living in the box?

That's a really interesting question.

My immediate reaction to it is that God began as distant to man [with some exceptions], and, in ever increasing revelation has come increasingly closer.

We see in Exodus that there is only one man who speaks to God face to face, and that is Moses.  God uses this one man to reveal himself to others, but it is still in a very limited way -- hence the box.

If you ever had a treasure box as a child, you know that only things that are very meaningful to you go into it--things that relate directly to your life.   The things in this box, and everything about it, will relate directly to the lives of the Israelites--but it is still something that is 'outside.'

Those who dared to look inside the box, or even to touch it without authority, died.  Therefore, the box is a symbol looking forward to something that has not yet been realized, except in a very limited way, as is also that group that tends to the box, the priesthood of Aaron.

In this way, one could say it is a prophecy, as is the entire Bible, of the one who is yet to come.