Because he had learned to obey God, Noah and his family dwelt safely within the ark when the rains came and flooded the land. The story of Noah must have been well known to the children of Israel when, centuries later, they journeyed through the wilderness after God had delivered them from their bondage in Egypt. Yet in spite of daily proofs of God's care for them they were still far from the spiritual faith of Noah. They desired some material sign of God and so, to strengthen their faith, their leader, Moses, made them a golden ark which should be a symbol of God's protection and ever presence in their midst.
Moses laid down extremely strict ordinances to safeguard the ark. It was to dwell within the tabernacle in the holy of holies, and the high priest only, after he had duly sanctified himself, was to approach it, once each year. In the light of Christian Science we see that the intention of these laws must surely have been to teach the people that they must purify and humble themselves to gain the safety of God's ever present protection. In her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," on page 581, Mrs. Eddy has given the spiritual definition of ark. The first part of this definition is, "Ark. Safety; the idea, or reflection. of Truth, proved to be as immortal as its Principle; the understanding of Spirit, destroying belief in matter." Moses was endeavoring to awaken the people to this "understanding of Spirit."
After the children of Israel were safely established in the promised land and had become materially prosperous they began to disobey the laws of Moses and very soon were openly worshiping other gods. When they turned away from God's protection it inevitably followed that they were quickly conquered by their enemies. In the midst of one of their battles against the Philistines, when defeat seemed imminent, they remembered the ark of the Lord. They hurriedly sent for it, and when it was brought into the camp "all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again."
