Exodus 38:1-15 NKJV
38 He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood; five cubits was its length and five cubits its width—it was square—and its height was three cubits. 2 He made its horns on its four corners; the horns were of one piece with it. And he overlaid it with bronze. 3 He made all the utensils for the altar: the pans, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the firepans; all its utensils he made of bronze. 4 And he made a grate of bronze network for the altar, under its rim, midway from the bottom. 5 He cast four rings for the four corners of the bronze grating, as holders for the poles. 6 And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze. 7 Then he put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to bear it. He made the altar hollow with boards.
8 He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
9 Then he made the court on the south side; the hangings of the court were of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long. 10 There were twenty pillars for them, with twenty bronze sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver. 11 On the north side the hangings were one hundred cubits long, with twenty pillars and their twenty bronze sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver. 12 And on the west side there were hangings of fifty cubits, with ten pillars and their ten sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver. 13 For the east side the hangings were fifty cubits. 14 The hangings of one side of the gate were fifteen cubits long, with their three pillars and their three sockets, 15 and the same for the other side of the court gate; on this side and that were hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets.
The construction of the altar of burnt offering and the courtyard of the tabernacle reflects both the seriousness of sin and the accessibility of God’s grace. These structures were central to Israel’s worship, showing how God dwells among His people while making provision for their sin.
The altar of burnt offering, positioned at the entrance of the tabernacle courtyard, was the first object encountered by those coming to worship. Built of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze, it symbolized the necessity of atonement. Sacrifices offered here reminded the Israelites of their need for forgiveness and the cost of sin, as life was exchanged to make peace with God. For us, the altar points forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Unlike the continual offerings of the Old Covenant, His sacrifice was once for all. At the cross, He bore the penalty for sin, making provision for peace through His blood. This truth transforms how we approach God—not with fear of rejection, but with faith and confidence in His grace.
The courtyard, enclosed by curtains of fine woven linen, provided a place for the congregation to gather in worship. The openness of the design speaks to God’s invitation to His people. Although the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place were restricted to the priests, the courtyard allowed all Israelites to draw near, bringing their sacrifices and lifting their prayers.
This accessibility foreshadows the greater access believers now have through Christ. The veil has been torn, and we are invited to come boldly to the throne of grace. God’s dwelling is no longer confined to a specific structure but is with His people, in the hearts of those redeemed by His Son.
As we reflect on these details, let us remember the seriousness of sin and the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice. Worship begins with acknowledging what God has done to bring us near to Him. Let us approach Him with gratitude, offering our lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable in His sight. Let us pray: Lord, thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus that has made a way for us to draw near to You. Teach us to worship You with grateful hearts and lives surrendered to Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.