“The Ark of the Covenant God commanded Moses to build in Exodus 25 was a memory box, crafted meticulously and covered in gold inside and out.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 21, 2025
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Hebrews 9:3-4
My mom died about 10 years ago of Alzheimer’s disease. If you’ve ever been through this with a family member, you know the terrible progression. The keeper of our family memories was losing them. Along with her memories went her security, and forgetfulness led to fear. But there was something that helped.
My mom and her best friend, Gail, had been together since pre-school! Gail couldn’t bear to watch my mom decline, but she supported me through it all as my second mom. She sent me things we could put in a box for my mom, mementos that would jog her memory. She sent photos and letters filled with memories of my mom’s childhood. I added a charm bracelet with the name of all my mom’s sorority sisters, and one sorority sister flew from my mom’s hometown to visit. They sat together with the box and talked about the contents, rekindling their friendship and my mom’s memory.
I was reading Hebrews 9:1-5 this morning, when this thought struck me. A memory box. The Ark of the Covenant God commanded Moses to build in Exodus 25 was a memory box, crafted meticulously and covered in gold inside and out. In it was a gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that changed overnight into a blooming almond tree, and the tablets with the law written by God’s own finger.
When the box was finished, God said that Moses could come back to it, and God would meet him there and talk with him (Exodus 25:22).
As the generation of the Exodus passed away, and through the entire history of Israel, God’s people would lose their memories, over and over. But the box would (almost) always be with them, a reminder that Yahweh was not a God of one location; He was ever-present, even as they traveled. The manna helped them remember the Lord’s provision. And the staff stood as a warning against rebelling against a supernaturally powerful Lord. The tablets evidenced that God had chosen them to be His own people and promised that, if they walked in His ways, He would bless and protect them.
I toyed with the idea of creating a memory box of my own to share with God. A page from the blue Bible I got when I was baptized. The falling-off cover of my green Bible covered with black and white photos of the time I served as a missionary in Russia. The paper I used to carry around with me with a single word that reminds me of a morning I woke up knowing God had heard what I prayed all night.
But I don’t know if I need a box. I have His Word, His calling (to make disciples), and His promise, “Surely I am with you, even to the end of the age.” That seems like enough. Jeremiah told the people something similar. One day, they wouldn’t look for the ark anymore. His law would be written on their hearts. They would know Him. We have the same invitation – to know God, to look forward (instead of back) to one day when we see Him face to face. A memory box with God sounds like a pretty good idea. But having God Himself sounds even better!
Prayer
Father, you know our weaknesses. Our memory is often our weakest muscle. We forget you when life on earth is good. We need your reminders. Teach us how to connect with you every day, to bury your Word deep in our hearts so we will hold fast to you and never let go!
Application
Make a memory box of special moments with God, not just commemorating what he’s given you, but also remembering times you knew He was with you or times you learned something special from him. Or if you prefer to journal, start making a list of memories with God, not just prayers answered the way you want, but all the pains and learning and growing too.
Related Reading
The Ark of the Covenant is part of Israel’s story through much of the Old Testament and is never lost or destroyed forever (you’ll see). You can follow its story with these verses:
Exodus 25:10-22, Exodus 37:1-9, Exodus 40:20-21; Numbers 4:5-6, Numbers 4:15, Numbers 10:33-36; Joshua 3:3-17, Joshua 6:6-20; Judges 20:27; 1 Samuel 4:3-11, 1 Samuel 5:1-12, 1 Samuel 6:1-21, 1 Samuel 7:1-2; 2 Samuel 6:1-23; 1 Kings 8:1-21, 1 Kings 8:9; 1 Chronicles 13:1-14, 1 Chronicles 15:1-29, 1 Chronicles 16:1-6, 1 Chronicles 22:19, 1 Chronicles 28:2; 2 Chronicles 5:2-14, 2 Chronicles 6:1-11, 2 Chronicles 35:3; Jeremiah 3:16; Hebrews 9:1-5; Revelation 11:19
Worship Resource
Mark Schultz: Remember me
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