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The ark, and later the tabernacle, would be constructed from the wood of the acacia tree. It was a hard-grained wood that was a natural insect repellent and dark orange in color. Because of the deposits in the dense structure of the tree, it was nearly impenetrable by the elements. It was the perfect type of wood for a durable construction project.
Practically speaking, this tree would have been one of the only types of trees that the Israelites would have encountered in this wilderness region they were traveling. It’s amazing to think that God would have known the precise location and exact seedlings that would one day grow to become the ark and tabernacle for Israel.
God’s specific instructions would form a beautiful design with unbelievable details. Sometimes we believe that God is a plain God, but that is hardly the case. There is beauty in everything He creates, from Creation, to His angels and to us as human beings. Beauty, craftsmanship, and artistry are characteristics we see through God from the beginning.
The issue with all three of these things is when, like Satan, the beauty becomes idolatrous. When we worship the gift instead of the Giver, we fail to see beauty as God intended. The beauty God designed should not draw attention to itself but should point to Him.