The Altar of Burnt Offerings
Exodus 38:1-7:
This is a description of the Altar of Burnt Offerings that was made to the specifications God had given earlier in Exodus 27:1-8.
Thoughts on the Passage
At this point, Bezalel had finished the gold work of the Tabernacle. It is interesting that God had instructed that the most beautiful and ornate parts of the Tabernacle were to be, for the most part, hidden from the sight of the ordinary Israelite. To me, that’s an indication that the real “gems” of our worship of, and relationship with, God are very personal – they are to be hidden deep in our hearts. They are to bring us joy and peace and hope. But those experiences are not meant to be flaunted about, egging others to match them in order to be like us or to achieve a certain level of devotion and piety. They are between God and us alone.
Matthew Henry says in this passage we see Bezalel now turning his attention to the preparation of the court of the Tabernacle. This part lay open to the view of all. And in this court, there were two things – the altar of burnt offerings which is described in this passage and then the bronze Laver which held water for the priests which is described in the passage that follows.
We comment, with Henry’s help, on the altar of burnt offerings and its significance. And it gets a little tricky here. We have to pay close attention and join the dots:
· First, we note all the sacrifices that were to be made were made on this altar.
· Second, we note that this altar because it was divinely designed and commissioned by God Himself, was itself sanctified.
· Third, it was sanctified for the purpose of receiving the sacrifices of the Israelites through the priests.
· Fourth, the sanctified altar thus made the sacrifices burnt on it, sanctified offerings or gifts, as long as they were offered in faith.
The parallel for us today is clear: “Christ,” says Henry, “was Himself the altar to His own sacrifice of atonement, and so He is to all our sacrifices of acknowledgment. We must have an eye to Him in offering them, as God has in accepting them.”
No man stands between our “peace” or relationship with God except Jesus Christ and He alone. So, as we make our offerings of service and time and prayer, as we seek forgiveness for the sins we committed today or yesterday, we must focus on Jesus Christ Who alone is able to facilitate their acceptance by God. And God, knowing we have made those offerings can only accept them, not be focusing on who we are, but on focusing on Whom we have chosen to present them through – for God can only accept them through His Son, Jesus Christ, Who alone is worthy to do so.
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