[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Wait till you see the ark

Read: Joshua 3: 1-17

Meditation verse:

“And they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the  covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you  shall set out from your place and go after it (Joshua 3:3).

The children of Israel were about to cross over the Jordan to the promised land  after forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The officers went through the  camp and instructed the people to move only when they see the priests and  Levites bearing the ark of the covenant of God. They were to set out from their  places only after they had seen the ark, so that they would know the way to go. 

The ark of the covenant was a symbol of God’s presence: Yahweh’s presence:  His strength and Almightiness. Today, you do not have the ark with you or the  Levites who bear it. But you carry the presence of God inside you, in the person  of The Holy Spirit. You are the bearer of the ark. A lot of times, we move ahead  with our plans without ‘seeing the ark’, and then we get frustrated, disillusioned,  or bitter when things do not go as planned. What does “waiting till we see the  ark” imply? 

It means tarrying in God’s presence and seeking His face concerning His plans  before stepping out each day. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all  your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways  acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths”. 

You would also need to study and meditate on God’s word. His word is a lamp  unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). As you study, a  particular text may light up before you; it is the Holy Spirit giving you insight.  

You can also seek counsel from trusted servants of God. “When you see the ark  of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then  you shall set out from your place and go after it”. Ark bearers also symbolize  men and women who carry God’s anointing. They can pray with you, seek God’s  face on your behalf and counsel you alright. Proverbs 11:14 says where there is  no advice, the people fall, but in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety.  Wait till you see the ark before moving ahead. When you do this, “your ears shall  hear a word behind you saying, ‘this is the way, walk in it’. (Isaiah 30:21).

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

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