What is the meaning of Exodus 38:1? Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering - God personally named and filled Bezalel with His Spirit for this work (Exodus 31:2-5; 36:1). - The verse shows obedience to the earlier blueprint (Exodus 27:1). Nothing is improvised; every detail follows God’s precise word. - The altar’s builder mattered: a man gifted by God, reminding us that ministry is carried out by those He equips (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). from acacia wood - Acacia thrives in the wilderness, is hard, light, and resistant to decay—an ideal picture of incorruptibility (Exodus 25:10; Deuteronomy 10:3). - Using native wood underscores God’s provision in barren places (Philippians 4:19). - Later the wood would be overlaid with bronze (Exodus 38:2), pairing enduring wood with judgment-bearing metal—a vivid portrait of sin dealt with yet mercy preserved (Numbers 16:38-40). It was square - The altar matched the square plan God gave earlier (Exodus 27:1). - A square has equal sides and stable corners, symbolizing justice and balance in atonement (Psalm 89:14). - Squares reappear in Scripture when God dwells with His people—the temple altar (Ezekiel 43:13-16) and the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:16)—hinting that the altar’s shape foreshadows ultimate fellowship. five cubits long, five cubits wide - At roughly 7½ by 7½ feet, it provided ample space for continual sacrifices (Leviticus 6:8-13). - The number five often accompanies grace and provision (Genesis 43:34; Matthew 14:17-21). Here, grace covers the sinner as the offering burns. - Exact measurements show that worship is never casual; God defines both approach and boundaries (Hebrews 12:28-29). and three cubits high - About 4½ feet tall—high enough to lift the sacrifice toward heaven, yet low enough for priests to serve without steps (Exodus 20:26). - Three frequently signals completeness and divine fullness (Jonah 1:17; Luke 24:7). The height subtly points to the complete work of atonement God would ultimately accomplish (John 19:30). - The elevated platform pictures Christ “lifted up” on the cross, drawing all men to Himself (John 12:32). summary Exodus 38:1 records Bezalel’s faithful construction of the bronze altar exactly as God commanded. Durable acacia wood, a balanced square shape, generous five-cubit span, and meaningful three-cubit height all combine to portray a place where holy justice and gracious forgiveness meet. Every measurement and material underscores that salvation is God’s design, carried out through divinely equipped servants, and points forward to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. |
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