Exodus 27:1-8
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Let’s go to India where we have this story from Dr Abhay, a university professor. He heard the program on social media. After listening for a few days he called the producer and inquired about Jesus. “I know that Jesus is only a social reformer; how can he be a God or son of God? A man cannot be God.” The producer guided him in what the Bible says about Jesus and Dr Abhay found the answers in the scripture, now he says, “Your programs helped me to know Jesus in the true sense.”
He was right, normally man cannot be God. Jesus is the only one who has ever truthfully made this claim and He gave us the evidence to support it.
Here is another testimony, this is from Nepal, “I came to faith in Jesus two years ago. I was a sorcerer. Although I engaged in a variety of ritualistic activities, I still struggled with anxiety and a lack of joy in my life. During that time, I heard the gospel from many sources. Later, a newcomer arrived in our village and started preaching the gospel. Many times, people beat him and threatened him so he would leave. But he persisted boldly and continued his work. Then I made the decision and mustered the courage to accept and adhere to the Truth. I found Christ thanks to him and the Heralds of Hope radio programs. Thank you.”
Wow! thank Jesus for His great salvation, we are humbled to partner with him and trust that He will continue to use this program to glorify Himself.
Again, we thank you for joining us and trust that you have been encouraged by hearing from our listeners. Now if you can open your Bibles to Exodus and let’s give our attention to Pastor J Mark as he shares today’s lesson with us.
Deep in the heart of every man, woman and child is the longing for God. There is a reason for that. We are made in God’s likeness, and He longs to fellowship with us. For that reason, we are restless until we find God or He finds us.
The big question is how can I find God? How can I have fellowship with Him? Some people think God must be satisfied in some way. They go to great ends trying to satisfy Him. They may inflict pain upon their bodies, they may walk many miles, go on pilgrimages–all in vain. Or they feel that because of their sin, God can’t forgive them; they’re just too bad.
It is true, there are some requirements to finding God. They are so stringent that no one can meet them in his own strength. God instructed Moses when He would build the tabernacle to make THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE. In Exodus 27:1-8 we find the how and why of that altar.
1. And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
2. And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
3. And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basins, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
4. And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof.
5. And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.
6. And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
7. And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.
8. Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.
In this description of the altar, God set forth some SPECIFICS for the structure and use.
The First SPECIFIC was,
The Detail of Its Structure.
God specified that this altar was to be made of wood. It was to be square, two-and one-half meters wide and one-and one-half meters high. In Bible measurement it was five cubits long and wide and three cubits high.
There were to be horns on the four corners of the altar. These horns were there so the priests could secure the sacrifice on the altar. But horns are often used in Scripture as a symbol of strength or power. Could these horns symbolize the power of the blood to provide cleansing for the one offering the sacrifice? I believe it is so.
Later the horns of the altar became a refuge for someone who was being pursued by a would-be killer. When in danger he could rush into the tabernacle and grab hold of the horns of the altar and no one could kill him, at least until his case could be examined by the judges.
Then there were the utensils. Pots, pans, shovels, basins, fleshhooks, and firepans were all utensils that were needed to perform the sacrifices. They were all made of bronze. Bronze is a metal that is made of copper and tin. An overlay of bronze was to cover the altar of sacrifice. Brass or bronze speaks of judgment. It was on this altar that the animal that was sacrificed took the judgment that was due the sinner and paid the penalty for his/her sin.
Also, in this altar there was to be a grate, a network through which the ashes could fall and by which the fire could come up to burn the sacrifice. The grate was made of solid bronze so it could withstand the intense heat needed to consume the sacrifice.
These are the details of the structure of the altar which was to be the place of offering.
The Next SPECIFIC was,
The Detail of Its Significance.
This detail was even more important than the detail of its structure. The size of this altar is larger than any other piece of furniture in the tabernacle. That may be God’s way of telling us that sacrifice is most important. If you want to find God you must have a sacrifice, a sacrifice that is sufficient, a sacrifice that is acceptable.
The altar was made of wood and overlaid with bronze. Bronze is an alloy, that is, it is a proper blending of copper and tin. It must go through a smelting or refining process. Those who have carefully studied the use of bronze in the Bible tell us that bronze often speaks of judgment. This was to be a bronze altar, a place where daily sacrifice was offered, morning and evening. Made of bronze it speaks to us of continual judgment of a holy God upon the sin of mankind.
We are informed in Exodus 29 that on this particular altar there was to be a continual sacrifice. “Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first-year day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even; And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink offering.” In liquid measure, a hin was about 4 liters or a gallon.
A continual sacrifice suggests to me that there is a continual need. So, God made continual provision by this altar of sacrifice so that His people might always be prepared to come into His presence in a proper way.
There is a fourth idea in the significance of this altar of sacrifice. Like the other pieces of furniture in the tabernacle, there were staves of wood so that the altar might be carried. Its mobility has a certain significance that we must not overlook. Wherever Israel went they had the altar of sacrifice with them. That tells us God knows that wherever men are they need an altar, the altar? Thus, God meant to remind Israel of their need because they could not go anywhere without the altar.
Let’s review these areas of significance. Being larger than any other piece of furniture in the tabernacle speaks of its importance. Being made of bronze suggests judgment. Being for continual use emphasizes that need was always present. Its mobility provided for them a necessary altar for sacrifice no matter where they went.
From this altar of sacrifice, we learn what God requires. He requires a continual sacrifice. He also makes it clear that no one is humanly fit to come to God. That is, we cannot come to God just as we are unless we are coming to ask for cleansing from sin. We must have access to a sacrifice that is sufficient to cover sin.
Where is that sacrifice and how does one find it? The Bible clearly teaches us that the sacrifice that meets our deepest need, illustrated by this altar of sacrifice, is the death of Jesus Christ. When He was crucified, He offered the sacrifice that is sufficient. When He died, He said, “It is finished.”
The writer of Hebrews confirms this with these words. “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
So, my friend, this experience in ancient Israel with the altar of sacrifice teaches the necessity of having a sacrifice that is acceptable when we come to the righteous holy God. Do you know Jesus Christ as your altar of sacrifice?
Thanks J Mark for this teaching and thank you for being here for this teaching from God’s Word. As we are going through this section of Exodus, I am so thankful for the completed work of Jesus Christ, through Him we have confidence to enter God’s presence. He has opened for us a new and living way, no longer do we have to abide by the Old Testament standards. Hallelujah Jesus Christ is the way!
If you have any questions or if you’d like a copy of today’s teaching, here are a few ways you can contact us. The best way is via email. Our email is [email protected]. If you don’t have email, you could write to us, our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Or you can connect with us on our website. Our website is Heraldsofhope.org. On our website you will find other teaching similar to this and more helpful resources, please look around while you are there. And If you go to the connect tab you can message us directly. Again, the website is heraldsofhope.org.
Thank you so much for being with us. We look forward to next week and hope you will join us for more lessons from Exodus. I will finish with a verse from Hebrews 9 on Christ’s finished work, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come… 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”
*This episode is an exposition of Exodus 27:1-8 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.