Box of god9/14/2023 ![]() The ark of the testimony got its name from the fact that it would be the housing for God’s testimony to His people. Through it all, God was painting a picture to help us understand what is required for sinful man to come into the presence of a holy God. The ark was placed inside the tabernacle in the most holy place, where only the high priest could go once a year (Exodus 26:34). Inside the ark of the testimony, Moses placed the tablets of the Law that God gave him on the mountain. It was there that God would meet with His people (Exodus 25:22). The lid of the ark was also made of gold and formed a seat between two cherubim, called the mercy seat. He wanted to teach them to obey Him in all things, whether or not they understood the reason for the rules. He demonstrated to them that His commands were not suggestions to be negotiated. God was beginning to teach His people about His holiness and their unworthiness. To do so would result in instant death, as happened with a man named Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:1–7). ![]() No one but the high priest could touch the ark (Numbers 4:15). It had four exterior rings through which poles could be attached for carrying. The ark of the testimony was a wooden box, covered in gold inside and out. So the ark of the testimony is the “box of the agreement.” The words testimony and covenant both refer to the conditional agreement made between God and the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. Among hundreds of other descriptive instructions for this tabernacle, God told Moses to build an ark of the testimony, also called the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:21–22). The tabernacle would be the place where the glory of God would dwell among His people (Exodus 25:8–9). God gave Moses specific instructions for building a tabernacle as they traveled in the wilderness. It is a useful tool which allows us to the surrender to God’s will.The first mention of the ark of the testimony is in Exodus 25:10. The ‘God Box’ is a concrete way to work on acceptance and powerlessness. The ‘God Box’ is a firm reminder to put the first part of the serenity prayer into use: “Accept the things I cannot change.” We no longer need to work on acceptance on a purely mental or emotional level. We are often pleasantly surprised at the way things turned out. Things no longer relevant and perhaps even forgotten can be examined. Some people choose to periodically look at the contents. We see that somehow, someway, our lives moved on. Often we learn about faith in a Higher Power and begin to trust in the process of life. Teaching children when and how to use the ‘God Box’ helps them look back at events in their lives and evaluate how things turned out. This personalizes and empowers the effect. Part of the delight and positive results this produces comes from choosing the right container and actually decorating it ourselves. Of course, a ‘God Box’ does not actually have to be a box. Not only is making the God Box a fun activity to do together, the relief they experience from using one is palpable. We trust God to orchestrate the results and have faith in our ability to navigate whatever comes in the future.Ĭhildren can benefit from having and using a ‘God Box’. We cannot ‘push the river’, even though many of us try. Perhaps a shelf in a closet or under the bed feels right to you. While many leave the box in full view, others prefer to place their container out-of-sight. ![]() When we place our cares in the box, imagine the release as our attempts to control the outcome subside. ![]() Generally it’s when of your own accord, you can go no further. Whether you feel frustration, fear, or just plain hindrance, only you will know the correct moment to use this spiritual tool. Life hands us, let us say, undesirable situations and circumstances. Things do not always go according to plan. Placing this paper in a ‘God Box’ is a way to release worrisome thoughts and feelings. The mere act of writing these concerns on paper diffuses some of their power. A ‘God Box’ is a physical container where you can lay your emotional concerns to rest. ![]() “At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice.”-Maya AngelouĬreating a ‘God Box’ is a fun recovery-based activity to share with your children. ![]()
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