THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
The ark served as a symbol of Christ. As such, He guided the Israelites through the wilderness, assuming the role of the Divine, as He was the shepherd of His people. This is affirmed by the Psalmist in the words, “O God, when Thou didst precede Thy people, when Thou didst pass through the wilderness, the earth was shaken, for the heavens also were melted” (Psalm 67:8). While the ark consistently led the way, it is distinctly noted that it was God who went before them. This can be further illustrated by recalling how God instructed the Israelites through Moses to confidently advance to Mount Seir and confront the Amorites (Deuteronomy 1:7, 19).
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However, upon receiving this command, the people faltered in fear, mistakenly believing they needed to rely solely on their own strength rather than seeking divine assistance, and they wept by the mountain as documented (Deuteronomy 1:45). The Lawgiver rightfully became enraged and ultimately warned them that they would not enter the promised land. Ignoring this warning and displaying a misplaced sense of repentance, they attempted to ascend, defying the Lord once more by arming themselves against the Amorites. Yet, God, through Moses, prophesied their fate, telling them, “Do not go up, and do not fall in the sight of your enemies, for I am not with you” (Deuteronomy 1:42). Despite their ongoing struggle with disobedience, they stubbornly attempted to climb the mountain, as recorded. The ark of God, however, did not accompany them and remained in the camp (Deuteronomy 1:43). This illustrates that although God stated, “I am not with you,” the ark did not follow the disobedient, indicating to the discerning that it represented God’s guidance.