God ordered Moses to build the Ark of the Covenant with specifications. (Ex.25:10-22) He further instructed Moses to put in the Ark, the two scrolls of the 10 Commandments, bread representing the manna and Aaron's rod. (Hebs.9:4)
Everywhere they journeyed, the Ark must go ahead of them. It was symbolic of God's presence.
One major obstacle faced after having gone through the Red Sea - was the Jordan. As soon as the priests who carried the Ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, "the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away ... so the people crossed on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan." (Jos. 3:15-16)
The sacred ark was seized by the Philistines when they defeated the Israelites but they could not keep it for long because it brought no end of trouble for them.
Fast forward, they returned the Ark and as it was being returned to Jerusalem, it nearly capsized when a non-Levite put out his hand to prevent it from falling and was killed on the spot.
David was afraid and kept the Ark in a man's house named Obed-Edom.
For housing God's presence for three months, "...the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all that he had." (1 Chronicles 13:12-14) When King David heard this he and his royal entourage quickly retrieved the Ark from Obed-Edom 'with rejoicing'. (1 Chronicles 15:25)
Today, God's presence resides within us in the person of the Holy Spirit. We also have His written Word constantly with us and yet we miss the blessings.
What is it that we are not doing right? Time to self-examine.
The absence of God's presence in our homes could be the cause. God is ready and willing to lift us up, if like Obed-Edom we nurture a relationship with Him. "I am the Lord of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me to do?" (Jer. 32:27) GGN111122
