Hebrews 9:3-4
Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

During the first covenant, God’s people worshipped Him in the tabernacle (and later, the temple in Jerusalem). The tabernacle referred to a clearly defined area of worship in the center of the Israelite nation, and within it were two tent-covered sections. The second, innermost section – separated from the rest of the tabernacle by a curtain – was the Most Holy Place.

It was here that the glory of God dwelt. Within this place was the ark of the covenant, a visible reminder of God’s presence and the place where annual atonement offerings were made. This ark contained three items that served as reminders of both God’s provision in the past and His promised deliverance that would come through Christ:

1. Aaron’s staff was a reminder of God’s ultimate authority and power. Aaron’s staff “produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds” [Numbers 17:8] to show Israel’s leaders that God had chosen Aaron and his line to be priests. This rod was placed in the Most Holy Place as a permanent reminder of God’s sovereignty.  

2. The jar of manna was a reminder of God’s miraculous provision in the desert. Wandering in a harsh region where food was scarce, God gave daily rations of manna (a type of bread) to His people. Through this supernatural gift of food, God provided help when His people were unable to help themselves.

3. The stone tablets were a reminder of God’s perfect holiness. His law showed the Israelites God’s holiness, and quickly revealed their inability to obey it. Yet God was not unaware of their plight. He knew they could not keep His law, and so He promised a Messiah: one who would fulfill the law in every way and redeem God’s people from the curse of sin.

In each case, we see the way these item point to Christ. The staff reminds us that God has chosen a people to be saved by the work of Christ. The manna reminds us that while we were helpless and hopeless, God sent Christ to us. And the law reminds us that God did in fact send the Messiah that He had promised to deliver us from the curse of sin and death. 

We do not know where the ark of the covenant is today. And perhaps this is best, since we no longer need it the way God’s people once did. Upon Christ’s death, the inner curtain was torn in half, a sign from God that His Spirit would not be in one location, but in the hearts of all who place their faith in Him. The old covenant has passed away, and the new covenant of Christ has begun!