The Mercy Seat was beaten into shape from refined gold and placed on top of the Ark. The Ark and the Mercy Seat go together, demonstrating the mutual, interdependent rest of God and the believer.

The Ark portrays the completion of the process of redemption. The Ark of the Covenant reveals the omega of the work of salvation in human beings.

The Christian who has been created in the image of Christ in spirit, soul, and body, who has been filled with the fullness of the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit, and who has been anointed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit for ministry, has an eternity of eternities in which to dwell in the bosom of the Father, to serve Him throughout His creation, and to come to know Him ever more fully.

The Ark of the Covenant contained three items: one, Aaron's rod that budded; two, the jar of manna; and three, the two stone slabs inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

The three elements in the golden chest, the Ark of the Covenant, portray the fully-developed Christian character. Aaron's rod that budded shows that the Christian has learned to flow with the resurrection life that proceeds from the Father—the Life of the Holy Spirit of God. "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection." Flowing in and with the resurrection life is one of the principal aspects of the rest of God.

In the seventeenth chapter of Numbers the story is told of the manner in which God demonstrated that the tribe of Levi in general, and Aaron and his descendants in particular, were chosen to lead Israel in the service of God. Of twelve rods left by Moses overnight before the Ark of the Covenant, one rod for each of the tribes of Israel, Aaron's rod alone came to life.

By a miracle, buds, blossoms and almonds appeared on the rod of Levi, on which Aaron's name had been written. This demonstration was brought about because of the rebellion of Korah, of the tribe of Levi, of the family of Kohath.

The family of Kohath was the branch of the Levites chosen to carry the holy furnishings. Korah's father was Izhar, making Korah a first cousin of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. Perhaps Korah was envious of the special favor of God shown toward Moses and Aaron. Dathan and Abiram of the tribe of Reuben also participated in the rebellion against Moses and Aaron.

The appearing of the buds, blossoms and almonds on the rod of Levi is a picture of resurrection life. In the first chapter of Romans, Christ is declared to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead.

Of all the dead bodies lying in the ground from the time of Adam, Jesus' alone came forth. Of all the religious teachers who claimed to be able to lead people to salvation, whose flesh has long since rotted away, whose bones being the only reminder that they once taught on the earth, Jesus alone returned from the land of the dead in stupendous triumph, laughing at His enemies, with the keys of Hell and death in His almighty grasp.

The rebellious scheming of men, even of personalities in the high place of religion and spiritual matters, are brought to nothing because Jesus is the only One who has resurrection life. The mountains of Bashan look with envy at Zion, at the place of God's dwelling. But all other leaders and teachers are dead while they yet live, unless they are found in Him.

To be continued.