The Altar of Burnt Offering

Exodus 38.1-7 We continue to look at the construction of the furnishings that were to be in the Tabernacle. The Altar of Burnt Offering Square = Divine Order and Perfection: The term is used in the Scriptures to describe sacred objects, altars, buildings, and heavenly structures that represent stability, completeness, and Divine order. Having four equal sides and four right angles (square), or metaphorically acting in a strong, firm, honest, and forthright manner The Altar The altar of burnt offering (also called the brazen altar) is the first major piece of furniture in the tabernacle courtyard, symbolizing complete surrender, atonement, and unhindered access to God's presence. It was the most prominent object in the Court of the Priests. Photo This was not just beautiful pieces of art. They were copies of what was in Heaven. They also have deep meaning for us. What does this Altar stand for in our lives? * Total Surrender (Olah): The Hebrew word for burnt offering is olah, which means "that which rises". Because the entire animal was consumed by fire rather than eaten, it symbolized giving one's entire self and will to God without holding anything back. Romans 12.1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. We want God to consume us. Our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12.29 Moral Purity Isaiah had the burning hot coal taken from off the altar and placed on his lips by the seraphim 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Total Surrender does some wonderful things for us. * It takes our hands off our lives We only need to follow Him. We do not need to come up with a plan for our lives. God already has one. We saw last week in Ephesians 2.10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do. If we walk with LORD we will walk into them. This past week after I voted… * It puts us in God’s Hands The very best place to be! Psalm 31. 15 My times are in Your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. No one can pluck us out of His Hand. Our enemies can only do to us what God permits them to do. Our response is to love them , do good to them, pray for them. * It transforms us Saving Mr. Banks, Disney says to P.L. Travers, Helen Goff, whose father was an alcoholic bank manager, who kept losing his job, but inspired her to be a writer with his imagination so that she wrote Mary Poppins, “Give her to me, Mrs Travers. Trust me with your precious Mary Poppins. I won't disappoint you. Every time a person goes into a movie house - from Lancaster to St Louis, they will see George Banks being saved. They will love him and his kids, they will weep for his cares, and wring their hands when he loses his job. And when he flies that kite, oh! They will rejoice, they will sing. In every movie house, all over the world, in the eyes and the hearts of my kids, and other kids and their mothers and fathers for generations to come, George Banks will be honoured. George Banks will be redeemed. George Banks and all he stands for will be saved. Maybe not in life, but in imagination. Because that's what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again and again. Trust me, Mrs Travers. Let me prove it to you. I give you my word.” The LORD calls us to do that with Him. “Trust Me, I will do wonders with you and in you and through you.” Trust Him with your past, present and future. Trust Him with yourself. He will not let you down. Trust Him with your pain. He will turn your scars into wonderful ministry. Trust Him with the Mystery. We go through testing and sifting times. Are we trusting Him? * It gives us discernment Surrendering to the LORD, He gives us the ability to decide between what is right and what is not. It gives insight to see beyond anger and pain to its cause. We will be able to refute false doctrines and the false teachers. Psalm 25.14 The LORD confides in those who fear Him; He makes his covenant known to them. We will be able to tell the difference between what is temporal and what is eternal. Through Full surrender the LORD gives us the ability to see things for what they are. I met Jesus at the crosswords, where the two ways meet, Satan stood a standing there and he said, “Come my way, Lots and lots of pleasures I will give to you today.” But I said, “No! There’s Jesus here. See what He offers me, Down here my sins forgiven, up there a home in Heaven, Praise God that’s the way for me! If we are not surrendered the to flesh, the sinful nature, we will make poor decisions. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5.16 * Substitution and Atonement: Before burning the animal, the worshiper laid hands on its head, symbolically transferring their guilt and sin onto the surrogate. This served as a covering (kafar) that allowed a sinful person to safely approach a holy God. I Peter 2. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. Jesus took our place. He did it to bring us back to God. True Substitute In our place. Photo of Tabernacle * A Pleasing Aroma: As the smoke and heat ascended toward heaven, the text describes it as a "soothing aroma" to the LORD, representing Divine acceptance, reconciliation, and restored communion. Ephesians 5:2: "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" * 2 Corinthians 2:15: "For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" * Philippians 4:18: Describes generous financial support and gospel partnership as "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God" * Genesis 8:21: After the flood, "the LORD smelled a soothing [sweet] aroma" from Noah's burnt offering. * Psalm 141:2: "May my prayer be set before You like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice". * The Altar was Square to Show Stability. We see here the steadfast love of the LORD. We see the Unchangeable Nature of God. Right angles cooperate with gravity. I think of it every time I go to the city. Align our lives to Jesus, our Rock Total Surrender restores the Divine Order in us. We celebrate the LORD’s Supper. Jesus’ total surrender to His Father’s Will David sharing