C. Genesis 6:14
Read: Gen. 6:14; 7:1-5; 8:1

 The ark was to be made of gopher wood. This was probably cypress wood used by the Phoenicians for their ship building.

Question: What was the purpose of the Ark?

     The purpose of the ark was to preserve from the flood (the result of  wrath of God against man's sinfulness) a remnant of the human race and of all the animals on the earth. The ark was the means of allowing God's creation to remain fruitful and in communion with God. God was exacting judgment on the earth for the supremacy of man's sinfulness. The ark was the symbol that God used to show the redemption of His chosen remnant. The flood and the ark was God's way of  restoring creation order to the world as it had developed into chaos through sin. The ark is seen as having a creation connection as it's purpose was to continue life as it was intended...to be fruitful and to have fellowship with God.

     In connection with the ark we read in  Genesis 8:11  about the dove that was released and returned to the ark with an olive branch in it's beak. I believe that this  is representative of the fact that God was once again making the earth fruitful. He was in the process of returning the earth from chaos to  creation order. This is consistent with the idea that  God always prepares the way for us before He gives us direction in life.

  D. Genesis 13:18
Read: Gen. 13:8

     Trees were a sign of water and therefore life in the wilderness desert. Abram settled at the oaks of Mamre near Hebron. He built an alter there to God for dealing kindly with him.

Question: Groves of Trees were often used for what in the OT?

     Groves were often used as centers for worship among both pagans and those who followed the One True God. Some say that these were mystical places relating to the 'asherah'. The word 'asherah' is translated grove in the KJV. Some believe that this is a mistranslation. By translating it this way there is a mystical aura placed on the grove itself.

Question: Who was the goddess Asherah?

     She was a goddess of fertility and was often worshipped by the pagans in areas of tall spreading trees, groves. The spreading tree with it's branches represented to the pagans the tree of life. It is because of this and other pagan worship rituals which took place in the grove of trees that it has is mystical references.

     I see the grove as a cool, refreshing place. A place of water and food for sustenance, therefore, at least for those who followed the One True God,  worship in the grove was more pragmatic than mystical.

     They blessed God for their provision in the desert and showed Him this by building altars there and worshipping Him. The 'great trees' mentioned throughout the Old Testament were testimony to God's great provision of water for life and fruitfulness to the weary traveler who might wander by this oasis.

     The New Testament continues this idea. In John 18:1 it says that Jesus took His disciples to an olive grove on  a regular basis, so regularly that Judas knew where it was when he asked where Jesus had gone.

     The 'tree' motif has continued to show God's  faithfulness in providing for His people and for His desire for them to be fruitful and commune with Him.

  E. Exodus 4:2
Read: Ex.4:2

Question: What did the rod represent to Moses and the children of Israel?

     The wood staff represented to Moses and to the children of Israel the presence and power of God among them. God used a wood stick to show His children His faithfulness and His provision for their redemption out of the slavery of Egypt. As the tree was used for food (sustenance) and shade (protection) from the heat thus giving life to man, so the staff would provide the children of Israel with the hope of life in the promised land.

     It is necessary to mention the incident when God turned Aaron's staff into a snake  (Ex. 7:9).

Question: If the snake was a chaos element and had religious pagan implications, why did God turn the rod into a snake?.

     I believe that the purpose was to show God ultimate authority and power over all creation. When Moses threw the rod down and it became a snake, Pharaoh's magicians could replicate the same miracle by use of dark magic. However, God was progressively showing not only the Egyptians but also the Israelites, that He had ultimate authority over every created thing.

     We can see this in the progression of the plagues. The Egyptian magicians were able to duplicate some but as time went on, even they realized that they were no match for the God of Israel.

Question: What do you think God is showing us through this?

     God is telling us that we can do some things on our own  and in our power but that it will eventually run out and you will have to acknowledge your dependence on the God of the universe. We are all like the tree, who without the grace of God, can not grow or produce fruit.

     The wood staff was the weapon used to deliver them from the hardened heart (sin) of Pharaoh and which leads them, in the hand of Moses, to life apart from bondage.

     It was also used by Moses to show God's power over the enemies of the children of Israel in battle. As Moses raised up his hand with the staff firmly grasped, the armies of Israel won the fight.

     But as the arm of Moses grew heavy and the staff as lowered, the armies of Israel lost the fight. This was a sign to the people of their total dependence on God as the supplier of all their needs, as the sustainer of their life and as their protector. It showed the nearness of the Lord in life's battles as well as in the quiet times.