Altar of the Tabernacle

Altar of the Tabernacle

Exodus 27: “You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar shall be square—and its height shall be three cubits. ² You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it. And you shall overlay it with bronze. ³ Also you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. ⁴ You shall make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the network you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. ⁵ You shall put it under the rim of the altar beneath, that the network may be midway up the altar. ⁶ And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. ⁷ The poles shall be put in the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar to bear it. ⁸ You shall make it hollow with boards; as it was shown you on the mountain, so shall they make it.

 

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GOD gave Moses specific instruction on how to make an altar to sacrifice animals to HIM.

 

My Observations:

• GOD expected specific animals to be sacrificed at specific times for specific reasons.
• GOD chose bronze as the metal which could withstand heat and maintain integrity.
• GOD knew the sacrifice would be messy, so HE had Moses build a way to clean it.

 

Sacrifices would be a reminder of Adam and Eve’s sin and for the need of bloodshed to atone for sin. GOD killed an animal to cover Adam and Eve. But HE also died for our sins, showing humans that HIS blood was needed to save humanity.

 

The altar would be able to transfer ashes and blood away from the top. Cleaning the altar was thought of in the design. Bronze is made of copper and tin. Neither metal is mentioned in the revelation of heaven, only gold. GOD also knew the children of Israel would need to cary the altar around, so HE designed a way to carry it. GOD was pointing to the sacrifice of JESUS.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the details of the altar?
• Has GOD ever given you specific instructions?
• How often do you remember the sacrifice JESUS made for you?

Terrified

Terrified

Genesis 35: ⁵ And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. ⁶ So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. ⁷ And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.

 

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Jacob was terrified that the cities around them would hear about what happened to the people of Shechem. Simeon and Levi murdered all the men of Shechem in revenge to what was done to Dinah. BUT GOD intervened.

 

My Observations:

• The surrounding cities may have remembered what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Terror of GOD fell upon the surrounding cities because Jacob was known to have a relationship with HIM.
• Jacob was full of terror and so were the surrounding cities.

 

Everyone was terrified in this, seemingly, impossible situation. No one had a good solution for moving forward in life. If the surrounding cities tried to retaliate, they might face GOD’s wrath. If Jacob caused any more problems, they could be wiped out.

 

Jacob previously made a promise to the LORD that he had not kept. He promised to offer ten percent of all he had to the LORD. Up to this point, he may not have kept this promise. Now he was terrified. After twenty plus years of making the promise to the LORD, he built an altar.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD describe everyone’s terror to Moses?
• Have you ever been scared of the future?
• Is there a promise you made to the LORD that needs to be fulfilled?

Here We Go Again

Here We Go Again

Genesis 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”

 

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Simeon and Levi, Jacob’s sons, had just caused a mess. They killed all the men of Shechem and took their wives, children and possessions. Jacob feared for everyone’s life in his camp. With no plan, GOD appeared to him.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob was in a situation where he had to run for his life again.
• Jacob caused the mess he had between him and Esau, and found himself in the same situation caused by his sons.
• GOD had to tell Jacob to go back to the same place where he fled from Esau.

 

Fleeing, probably was not Jacob’s plan. He was told by GOD to return to Isaac’s and Rebekah’s land and may have thought he would settle there. Now he feared that his sons had upset very powerful groups from all over.

 

Bethel, also called Luz, was the place where GOD showed Jacob the supernatural ladder. Angels descended and ascended the ladder and Jacob promised he would offer the LORD ten percent of all he had. GOD sent Jacob back to this place and commanded him to build the altar he promised.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about HIS command to Jacob to leave and build an altar?
• Are you in a situation that seems very messed up?
• Do you have faith in GOD to handle all your difficult situations, even the one you are in right now?