In Exodus 25 God gave His people instructions regarding the construction of the ark of the covenant, and in :16 He commanded: “You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.” This was an act of faith. Israel as yet did not have any testimony to put into the ark!

God didn’t say, “Put the testimony I GAVE you into the ark”, but that “which I SHALL give you.” They were to believe that God was indeed going to give them some evidence/testimony which they would then put into the ark. And as it happened, He did: the 10 Commandments, the rod that budded, and a jar of manna. But as of yet, there was no testimony. They were to build the ark by faith and wait for what God would give them to put in it. It was very similar to what God commanded Noah to do with the ark: he was to prepare it, by faith, before the rains ever came, believing that what God predicted would indeed happen.

We need to realize that God commands US to do things by faith too. He may call you to prepare for something that is not even here yet – but like Israel’s testimony, it will be later! Remember Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” You please God when you respond to Him, and by faith prepare for what He tells you is coming. Perhaps today, God is calling you to take some specific steps of preparation for something that is never even here yet — by faith!